F 

T4 



ME D rORD 

IN THE 

REVOLUTION 




Class__ / 7^L 
Book__ K\ 6' Wl^ 
CopyiightN" _ 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




GOVERNOR JOHN BROOKS. 

(See Page 30.) 



Medford in the Revolution. 



MILITARY HISTORY OF 



Medford, Massachusetts. 



1765-1783. 



Also List of Soldiers and Civil Officers, with 
Genealogical and Biographical Notes. 



HELEN TILDEN WILD. 



medford: 

J. C. Miller, Jr., Printer, 

1903. 



'^-^ 



THt llb.KARY OF 
CCNGRtSS, 

Two Copies Received 

FEB 2 1903 

Copyright Entry 

CLASS ^ XXo. No. 

COPY B. 



Copyright, rqoj. 
HELEN T. WILD. 



Medford in the Revolution. 



MILITARY HISTORY. 



At the beginning of the Revolution the resolutions passed in 
the town meetings of Medford, Massachusetts, were not as 
spirited as those of many other towns of the State ; but when the 
time came for the citizens to choose between king and colony 
there were only three or four who did not stand for liberty. 

In 1765, Hon. Stephen Hall, the representative, received in- 
structions from the town which included the following confession 
of faith. 

" Beholding with anxiety the success given to these extraordi- 
nary measures by the several laws lately enacted by Parliament 
tending to destroy our Trade and drain us of our Money, espe- 
cially this most grievous of all Acts, commonly called the Stamp 
Act . . . We esteem it our bounden duty to entertain profound 
Respect for and pay ready Obedience to all lawful authority 
according to our happy constitution, and do therefore express 
our unshaken loyalty to his present Majesty King George IH. 
. . . We hold in great veneration the August Body of the 
British Parliament and are ready to yield Obedience to the laws 
they shall from time to time enact agreeable to our constitution^ 
but considering them as men and therefore liable to misinforma- 
tion and error, whenever they require such obedience from us 
which is incompatible with the enjoyment of our just liberties 
and properties we cannot but arise and remonstrate against it." 
Mr. Hall was instructed to vote that the losses of Governor 
Hutchinson on account of the Stamp Act riot, August 26, 1765, 



A MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

be made up to him "upon his Application to the General 
Asfembly in a Parliamentary way." The other persons who 
sustained damages were entirely ignored. When the news of 
the repeal of the Stamp Act was received in Medford, the town 
celebrated by a great bonfire on Pasture Hill. 

In reply to the pamphlet sent out by the Committee of Corre- 
spondence of Boston in 1772, the committee appointed (Messrs. 
Willis Hall, Stephen Hall, Tertius, Deacon Isaac Warren, 
Joshua Simonds and Benjamin Hall) wrote that assistance 
would not be wanting in the use of "proper measures as shall 
be thought expedient to be adopted for the preservation of our 
Liberties, Civil and Religious, being of opinion that a steady, 
uniform and persevering conduct in a constitutional way is the 
best means under God for obtaining that end and a Redress of 
all our grievances." 

Rather more warmth is expressed in instructions to Dr. Simon 
Tufts, in regard to the payment of justices by the crown. He 
was told to " zeelously and vigourously exert " himself to avert so 
formidable an evil and frustrate the " wicked machinations of 
our inveterate enemies," for, if a provision which rendered the 
justices so dependent on the crown should become a fact, " The 
Ax is now laid at the Root of our Liberty with a fixed intention 
to hew it down." 

The people of Medford met in town meeting on December 7, 
1773, and heard the letter from the Committee of Correspondence 
concerning the three tea ships in Boston harbor. A commit- 
tee was appointed to draw up resolutions and to report at an 
adjourned meeting, December 16. While they were adopting 
the report, the exciting town meeting was being held in the 
Old South meeting house, Boston, and when Medford's letter 
was forwarded, the tea was floating in the bay. 

Among the Sons of Liberty who took part in the Tea Party 
was John Fulton of Medford. He was one of the party who 
disguised themselves at the house of his brother-in-law, Nathaniel 
Bradlee, corner of Tremont and HoUis Streets. The men were 
assisted by Mrs. Nathaniel Bradlee and Mrs. Fulton in assuming 
their disguise and in removing the stains of the evening's work. 



MILITARY HISTORY. C 

The men were saved from capture by the authorities by the 
coohiess of the women. 

The tea troubles were not settled by making a tea pot of 
Boston harbor. In the latter part of i774 it began to be 
whispered that some of the good people of Medford were 
using the forbidden beverage. A committee was appointed to 
'* enquire if any person or persons Sells or consumes any East 
India teas in their families and if any such found in this Town 
that they cause their names to be posted up in some publick 
place." Then the voters, not wishing to bind their neighbors 
to what they would not abide by, " Voted that we will not use 
any East India Teas in our Families till the Acts be Repealed." 

In June, 1774, the Boston Port Bill became a law, and all 
business in Boston and vicinity was at a stand still. It put an 
end to the lightering business, which was Medford's chief source 
of revenue. 

Farmers from the east and north brought their products to 
Medford, which with bricks, leather and rum manufactured in 
the town, were transported down the Mystic river by boats 
or " lighters." 

November 14, 1774, suffering but inflexible, the town voted, 
"This Town does not approve of any bricks being carried to 
Boston till the committees of the neighboring towns shall consent 
to it." 

In the spring of 1775, when Boston had received money and 
provisions, Medford petitioned for a share of the supplies in the 
following words : — 

"Previous to the shutting up of the Port of Boston, a great 
part of the Inhabitants of Medford subsisted by Brick making, 
and numbers of other poor Inhabitants there were employed in 
transporting these Bricks to Boston, where was our Market for 
them both in supplying the Town, and also Vessels in the 
Harbour, from whence they were exported to foreign Parts in 
great Quantities. But since by the Operation of the Port Acts, 
this our Trade is at an End, and those poor People are put out 
of Business and themselves and Families are involved in the same 
Calamity and distress for want of employ as are the poor of 



6 MEDFOKD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

Boston and Charlestown . . . The Inhabitants of Medford in 
Town Meeting assembled the 14th Instant [Mar. 14, 1775] upon 
Consideration of the Premises have directed us to acquaint you 
with our distressed Circumstances and to petition for your kind 
Assistance. We do therefore in behalf of said Town, pray that 
you would consider our unhappy Condition, and that you would 
(if the Circumstances of your Poor admit,) in your known 
Benevolence and Humanity grant us (who are suffering in the 
common Cause) some small Portion of that Liberality which 
Providence has put into your hands." 

It was voted by the Selectmen of Boston to refer this to the 
annual meeting of the Town of Boston in May, but great events 
changed the current of affairs before that time, and Medford 
never received her " small Portion." 

When General Gage began fortifications on Boston Neck, the 
people thought it high time to prepare to defend themselves. 
The Committees of Safety began to collect ammunition. Powder 
manufacturing was encouraged by the Provincial Congress. 
Stephen Hall, 3d, the representative from Medford, was one of 
a committee to encourage the manufacture of saltpetre. The 
local Committee of Safety kept a sharp watch over the powder 
belonging to the town, which was stored in the " Powder House" 
at Quarry Hill just south of Medford line. Rumor said that 
Gage intended to seize the powder stored there. August 27, 
Thomas Patten was sent to remove the town's supply to a safer 
place. Three days later Gage sent the troops out from Boston 
and carried all the ammunition remaining there, the property 
of several towns which had not heeded the alarm, to Castle 
William. 

From this time forth Medford was thoroughly imbued with 
the spirit of resistance. November 14, 1774, it was voted to 
pay no more province taxes to Hon. Harrison Gray, but to order 
the collector to hold the same till further notice. January 9, 
1775, it was voted to pay this money to Henry Gardner, Esq., 
Treasurer under the Provincial Congress. 

The town records make mention of a Committee of Corre- 
spondence for the first time, March 13, 1775, but the Selectmen's 



MILITARY HISTORY. 7 

Order Book under date of October 2, 1774, records " Paid Moses 
Billings* [tavern keeper] for entertaining the Committee of Cor- 
respondence, 40s. 

The Committee of Correspondence for 1775 consisted of 
Benjamin Hall, Esq., Ebenezer Brooks, Jr., Thomas Patten, 
Stephen Hall, 3d, James Wyman, Deacon Isaac Warren and 
Deacon Samuel Kidder. 

Benjamin Hall was a member of the last General Court held 
in Boston, May 31, i774' ^^^ '^^^ one of the ninety representa- 
tives who on October 5, in spite of Gage's orders, met in 
Salem, and behind locked doors formed the first Provincial 
Congress, and adjourned to Concord. Mr. Hall was put upon 
the committee to provide ammunition and stores. In November, 
seven pieces of cannon were bought and " Mr. Gill and Mr. 
Benj. Hall were desired to get them out of Boston to some place 
in the country in such manner as they may think most pi-udent." 
These were very likely stored in Medford, for on April 28, 
1775, it was ordered that the "Cannon now in Medford be 
immediately brought to this town [Cambridge] under direction 
of Captain Foster." 

In March, 1775? the ledger of Benjamin Hall shows that he 
sent to Concord a large consignment of pork, fifty axes and 
helves, wheelbarrows, and material for constructing barracks. 
There are also charges for carting, carpenter-work, and the item, 
" Paid James Tufts for going to Charlestown twice for gun- 
smith's tools." 

Medford's company of Minute Men was commanded by Capt. 
Isaac Hall, a brother of the representative. The lieutenant was 
Caleb Brooks, a half-brother of Dr. John Brooks who was after- 
ward Governor of Massachusetts. The ensign was the oldest 
son of Stephen Hall, Tertius. 

There is hardly a name on the roll which had not been known 
in Medford for years. There were nine in the company named 
Tufts — a family resident in the town long before 1 700. The 
names Bradshaw, Francis, Blanchard, Oakes and Pritchard dated 
back to the time of Governor Cradock. 

* Moses Billings came to Medford, October 8, 1770; died in Medford, June 29, 1795. 



8 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

As the April days advanced the people became more and 
more restless, and rumors were rife. On April fourteenth the 
Committee of Safety prevailed upon Hancock and Adams to 
leave Boston, and almost immediately came certain intelligence 
that the troops were to march into the country. 

When Paul Revere " crossed the bridge into Medford town," 
stopped at the door of Capt. Isaac Hall, and passed on, alarming 
the sleeping farmers on the road to Menotomy, the people of 
Medford were not slow in responding. Naturally, some Med- 
ford man carried the message to Maiden and perhaps farther, but 
his name is lost. Morning found the town almost destitute of 
men. Fifty-nine men had marched away in the company, and 
volunteers followed. Heniy Putnam, who had earned the title 
of lieutenant in the Louisburg campaign, although exempt on 
account of his age, could not remain at home when there was 
fighting to be done, and grasping his musket, went out to give 
his life for freedom at Menotomy. He was one of eighty-six 
Putnams who were on the Lexington Alarm Rolls. 

Rev. Edward Brooks went on horseback to Concord, and was 
in the skirmish at the bridge. Lieut. Edward Thornton Gould, 
of his Majesty's own Regiment of Foot, was wounded there. 
His life was saved by Mr. Brooks, who brought him a prisoner 
to Medford. In his sworn testimony Lieut. Gould said, " I . . . 
am now treated with the greatest humanity and taken all possible 
care of by the provincials at Medford." He remained in Med- 
ford until February, 1776, when he was transferred to the barracks 
at Concord. 

Mrs. Brooks, who through the day of the battle had served 
chocolate to the minute-men as they passed her house, which 
stood in sight of the gleaming bayonets of the red coats as they 
passed through Menotomy, gave her self-forgetful care to her 
wounded enemy. 

Capt. Hall and his company marched to Lexington and there 
joined Capt. John Brooks and his Reading company. 

Capt. Brooks had left Medford only two years previous to 
practice medicine in Reading, and many of the men in the 
Medford company had been drilled by him in boyhood days, he 



MILITARY HISTORY. Q 

having early developed a taste for military affairs. The com- 
bined companies overtook the British at " Merriam's Corner" 
and followed them to Charlestow^n Ferry, continuing their fire 
until the last of the troops had embarked. One of the Medford 
company, William Polly, v^^as mortally w^ounded, but was brought 
to his home, where he died April 25. 

All day the town was astir with drum and fife as company 
after company marched through toward Concord. When night 
fell, companies which arrived too late to participate in the fight 
were quartered in Medford, and remained there until their five 
days' service was over. The Medfoi'd company proceeded at 
once to Cambridge. 

Over the roads which many had been used to travel with their 
ox-teams on peaceful errands, the men of New Hampshire 
hurried to Medford, which was designated as their rendezvous. 
The field officers were quartered at the " Admiral Vernon." 

April 26 they held a meeting and advised the men to enlist in 
the service of Massachusetts Colony. They also recommended 
Col. John Stark to take charge of them till the Provincial Con- 
gress of New Hampshire should act. They were not well 
supplied with tents or ammunition. Col. Poor's regiment re- 
mained quartered in Medford for lack of the former. 

In the middle of May the Committee of Safety voted that " All 
New Hampshire troops now in Medford if enlisted into the 
Colonial service under Stark and Sargent, and properly equipped, 
shall be provided with barracks (those who cannot be or who 
do not choose to enlist be provisioned home)." 

A second company of militia was formed in Medford, and 
offered its services to the Committee of Safety. The men were 
ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march at a minute's 
notice, remaining in Medford until further orders. Cannon 
were planted on Bunker Hill to prevent the British going to 
Medford by water. 

Great care was exercised that nothing of use to the British 
should be left within their reach. June 9, Capt. Benjamin Hall 
reported that a parcel of spars were on the south side of Mystic 
Bridge. He was directed to remove them to a place of safety. 



lO MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

Fire boats were constructed and kept in a place of safety, 
ready to be used against any vessels of the enemy which should 
try to come up the river. 

In May, the selectmen of Medford, Maiden, Chelsea and Lynn 
were instructed by the Committee of Safety to remove all cattle 
from Noddle's, Snake and Hog Islands and from that part of 
Chelsea near the coast. For this purpose they drew as many 
men as they needed from the regiments quartered in Medford. 

We have a record of but two men in Medford who left the 
town rather than join the patriots. One was Col. Isaac Royall, 
the other, Joseph Thompson, a brick maker. The hitter's prop- 
erty was treated rather roughly at first, but it was taken charge 
of by the Committee of Safety, who leased it to well known men 
of the town. The stock of bricks and lumber was seized for the 
use of the army. 

Col. Royall went to Boston in his chariot on the Sunday pre- 
ceding the Battle of Lexington, and unfortunately for him, he 
went armed. The testimony of his neighbors to that effect was 
damaging, when the question of confiscating his estates came 
up. He had been a member of the Council from 1752 until 
1774. He was elected mandamus councillor in 1774, but never 
took the oath on account of public sentiment. He was one of 
the selectmen of Medford for sixteen years, and was moderator 
of the town meeting which made resolutions against the Stamp 
Act. The people of Medford were his friends, and were doubt- 
less much astonished when he absented himself. Dr. Simon 
Tufts was his attorney, and had charge of the estates until 1778, 
when they were confiscated. By an agreement with the local 
Committee of Safety, Dr. Tufts made no remittances to the 
Colonel. It had been Royall's intention to retire to his West 
Indian estates, but the beginning of hostilities prevented his 
agent from engaging his passage. He constantly wrote to his 
friends asking their influence to procure permission for his return, 
and as he never was proscribed, he might have come back if he 
had lived until the close of the war. He died in England of 
small pox, a disease of which he had always had an almost 
morbid dread. 



MILITARY HISTORY. I I 



His grand-daughter, Elizabeth Royall Hutton, wife of Rev. 
Henry Hutton, and daughter of William Pepperell and Elizabeth 
Royall, received the title of the estates at last, and in 1804 sold 
to Robert Fletcher, Samuel Dexter and Fitch Hall the Royall 
property in Medford and Foxborough. 

To protect the property of Col. Royall, Gen. Stark was invited 
to make the mansion house his headquarters. His wife came 
from New Hampshire and made her home there while the siege 

lasted. 

On June 2, Col. Reed was ordered to collect his regiment, part 

of which was in Medford, and proceed to Charlestown Neck. 

Col. Dearborn arrived in Medford on the sixteenth and marched 

to Charlestown the next morning. 

On the morning of the seventeenth, Stark's regiment was 

ordered to cross Charlestown Neck to reinforce Frescott. Under 

a galling fire from the British ships he marched his men across 

in military order. 

Daniel Reed and Robert Bushby of Medford were in this 
detachment. They afterward served three years in the Conti- 
nental army. 

The Medford company was in the battle of Bunker Hill, 
although probably only during the latter part of the fight. Col. 
Henry Gardner's regiment, to which the company belonged, was 
at Cambridge, stationed in the road leading to Lechmere Point. 
Late in the day it was ordered to Charlestown. On arriving at 
the real Bunker Hill, General Putnam ordered part of the regi- 
ment to assist in throwing up entrenchments there. Part was 
ordered to the redoubt, and another detachment went to the rail 
fence where the New Hampshire men were stationed. Doubt- 
less many volunteers from Medford went with Stark's regiment. 
We have record of a few. 

Major John Brooks was at the redoubt during the early part 
of the day, and about 10 o'clock he was sent to Cambridge for 
re-enforcements and provisions. As he could find no horse, he 
was forced to walk to headquarters. Gen. Ward did not grant 
his request in time to make the re-enforcements of service. 
During the afternoon Major McClary of Epsom, N. H., was 



12 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

sent back to Medford for bandages. He crossed the dangerous 
Charlestown Neck in safety on the outward trip, but, returning, 
he was killed. His horse found his way back to the Royall 
House stables, and his retreating comrades found the body of 
the major where he fell. He was buried with honors of war 
in the little military burying place which long ago was obliter- 
ated. In 1849, the bodies were removed to the Salem Street 
Cemetery, near the Brooks' monument. 

Medford was in sight of the battle and the glare of burning 
Charlestown. Uncertainty as to the fate of their own men made 
the watchers intensely anxious, but when the wounded New 
Hampshire men at evening w^ere brought into town, the women 
had plenty to do. The field hospital was established on the 
main road, just south of the bridge, and the women helped the 
surgeons. One, Mrs. John Fulton, did a little surgical work 
on her own account, extracting a bullet from the cheek of one 
unfortunate. Many of these strangers had cause to thank the 
women of Medford for cai'e when wounded or sick during the 
months that followed. 

After the battle, the Americans began to throw up entrench- 
ments on Winter Hill. Haste was imperative, as everyone 
expected the British to follow up their dearly bought victory. 
The provincials had few tools, having lost a large pait of their 
scanty store at Charlestown. The General Court sent a message 
requesting Medford " to immediately supply Major Hale [Stark's 
Regiment] with as many spades and shovels as they can spare, 
as it is of importance to the safety of this colony that the works 
begun on Winter Hill be finished, and that they will be retarded 
unless soon supplied with tools of that kind." 

When Gen. Washington took command of the army it was 
concluded to station one thousand militia men in and about 
Medford. We find record that several companies from Maine 
served in the town under Col, Nixon and Col. Loammi Baldwin. 

These men were kept busy by constant alarms. Firing was 
kept up by the British ships until September 10. As the cold 
weather came on, the need of wood in both armies made the 
guardianship of the "Charlestown Wood Lots" (Middlesex 



MILITARY HISTORY. 



13 



Fells) very important. The British under cover of their ships 
were likely at any time to cross the Mystic to get wood them- 
selves or to inteixept any intended for the Continental Army. 
The militia in the vicinity had the pleasure of taking some 
prisoners and sending them to " Washington's Headquarters at 
Royall's." Thomas Brooks, Esq., supplied the troops on Winter 
Hill with wood from his own farm. The white pines which his 
Majesty had reserved for his royal navy were cut down by the 
Continentals and used in their camps for firewood. 

Powder was so valuable that all shooting for sport was for- 
bidden, and game used for food had to be snared. 

From the time Whigs were ordered out of Boston until some 
time after the evacuation of the town, Medford was one of the 
havens for the homeless people of Charlestown and Boston. 
Among those from the former place, we find the names Boylston, 
Codman, Rand, Stearns, Tufts, Kidder, Wier, Bradshaw, Sw^an, 
Cary, Edes, Harris, Stimpson and Manser ; and from Boston, 
Hancock, Scott, Hall, Henley, Cooper, Fulton, White and Ash. 

After the burning of Charlestown many very poor people 
came to Medford who were provided for temporarily by the 
overseers of the poor, and as soon as possible sent to their kins- 
folk in other towns. Gen. Gage purposely sent out peoj^le 
infected with small pox. Precautions were taken against the 
dreaded disease and it was kept in check, but the next year a 
terrible epidemic occurred. Dr. Osgood wrote in his diary, 
July 9, 1776, " a melancholy day on account of small pox." 

Owing to insufficient food and housing the summer of 177'? 
was very sickly, and was especially fatal to the little ones. Out 
of fifty-six deaths recorded, twenty-three were of children. 

In December, i775' ^ iTi'in appeared in Medford who, while 
he professed friendliness to their cause, was looked upon w^ith 
distrust by the citizens. He lodged at Porter's Tavern, and 
from there wrote a letter to Washington asking for an interview 
at his camp. His name was Major Robert Rogers, a half-pay 
officer in the English army. Gen. Sullivan, then cominanding 
at Winter Hill, was ordered by Washington to call upon the 
major. In reply to a question asking why he came to the camps, 



H 



MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 



he replied that he wanted Gen. Washington's license to travel 
unmolested ; as his career during the French War was far 
from irreproachable, Sullivan mistrusted him, and he was not 
allowed to come nearer to Washington than Medford. Sulli- 
van's doubts were verified, for Rogers had been a prisoner, and 
was at that time on parole. A few months afterward he organ- 
ized a band of Tories called the Queen's Rangers and became a 
colonel in the British army. If he had received entrance to the 
camp of Washington it would have been for the purpose of sell- 
ing to the British any information he might have gained. 

If spies were sent by the British, there were friends of the 
colonists in the town of Boston with whom Washington had 
communication. 

Mrs. John Fulton, who has been mentioned twice before in 
these pages, voluntarily assumed the risk of carrying despatches 
into the town. She went at night on foot to Charlestown, 
borrowed a boat, rowed to Boston, delivered her message and 
returned in safety. 

In September, 1775, several Medford men enlisted for the 
campaign against Quebec under Arnold. On September 13 
the expedition started from Cambridge and camped for the night 
in Medford. Tradition says some of the men slept in the meet- 
ing house. They proceeded the next morning to Newburyport 
where they embarked for the Kennebec. Joshua Reed and 
Richard Cole reached home in January and February, 1776, but 
Samuel Ingalls of Stoneham, who was a member of the Medford 
company, did not return until the following October, having been 
taken prisoner. 

The return of Capt. Isaac Hall's company, October 6, 1775, 
then in command of Lieut. Caleb Brooks, stationed at Prospect 
Hill, reported forty-one men; of these Joseph Bond was dis- 
charged in June, 1775, and Richaixl Pain died in August. 
Twenty-one of the fifty-nine minute-men are included in this 
roll. They enlisted for eight months directly after the battle of 
Lexington. Each man received his bounty coat or its equiva- 
lent. The widow of Richard Pain received money in lieu of 
the coat due him. 



MILITARY HISTORY. 



15 



At least fifteen Medford men served under Capt. Stephen 
Dana at the lines before Boston. In March, Capt. Isaac Hall, 
in command of his company, was ordered to Dorchester Heights 
and served four days. 

The British evacuated Boston March 17, 1776, but a few ships 
remained in the harbor until June. In May the Medford militia 
worked at Noddle's Island, building fortifications, and the next 
month the militia of all the towns on the coast succeeded in 
sending these lingerers after their companions. 

As soon as the British had evacuated Boston, Washington 
began to send his men to New York. Bond's regiment marched 
the day the siege ended. Major Brooks, Sergt. Thomas Pritch- 
ard, Daniel Reed and several other Medford men were in the 
regiments ordered out of Massachusetts. 

On June 13, 1776, when the militia had gone down the 
harbor for their last effort to dislodge the invaders, the Town of 
Medford, in town meeting assembled, voted unanimously, that 
" Should the Hon2 Continental Congress for the Safety of the 
United Colonies in America declare them Independent of the 
Kingdom of Great Britain, the Inhabitants of said Town will 
solemnly Engage with their Lives and Fortunes to Support 
them in the Measure." 

The Declaration of Independence appears in the Town 
Records directly following the report of the meeting at which 
the foregoing vote was passed, but it was not received by the 
town until September. On the first Sunday following its receipt, 
Mr. Osgood, the minister, read it from the pulpit. 

On what was in the years to come to be known as Indepen- 
dence Day, the voters were assembled to raise extra bounty to 
be paid to thirty men called for " to goe to Canada." With the 
fate of their friends who had been imprisoned there fresh in their 
minds, it is not strange that many hesitated to enlist. The town 
offered £240 for bounty additional to that offered by the Province. 
As the town did not have money at hand, and must raise 
the amount later by taxation, Benjamin Hall and his brother 
Richard together advanced half of the amount, and Stephen 
Hall, Tertius, the remainder. 



1 5 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

Moses and Samuel Tufts were chosen recruiting officers, and 
went out into " Hampshire Government or elsewhere " to enlist 
the men. They were empowered to pay each man two dollars 
on enlistment. They recruited eighteen men, and twelve men 
from Medford completed the quota. They enlisted for five 
months. 

Beside the bounty already offered, seventy-four citizens added 
£326, 15s., 4d. to the fund for the soldiers, in sums varying 
from .£34, loaned by Simon Tufts, Esq., "for Col. Royall," to 
£1. These small loans were to be paid back to those who 
advanced them " when they paid their next tax bills." 

Before this detachment was ready the army had retreated from 
Canada, and these men were sent to Ticonderoga. Small pox 
and camp distemper ravaged the army there, and the regiments 
were rendered unfit for service. Many lost their lives, but 
eleven of the twelve Medford men lived to come home. Timothy 
Hall died in camp. Their hardships must have been intense, 
for at the next March meeting the town voted to pay them £6 
per man extra allowance. 

After the misfortunes at Long Island, alarm men were sent 
to New York. Medford was called upon to send thirteen men. 
A bounty was offered of £4 per man. Private subscription 
increased the amount to £10, 6s., Sd. No muster roll of this 
levy has been found. The militia called out at this time served 
two months. During this campaign Col. John Brooks distin- 
guished himself at White Plains and received acknowledgments 
from Gen. Washington. 

In the fall of 1776, drafts came thick and fast. Every fifth 
man in the colony was obliged to serve as a soldier or send a 
substitute. November 26, "The town met to draw men to 
go to New York " [Dr. Osgood's diary] . These men marched 
under Gen. Lincoln. 

The winter closed in gloomily. Three days after this last 
draft Forts Washington and Lee were evacuated. The men at 
Ticonderoga were suffering privation and sickness, and there 
were serious fears of the return of the British to Boston. Men 
were constantly on duty there guarding stores and for the defense 



MILITARY HISTORY. 



17 



of the town. Capt. Caleb Brooks was in command of a com- 
pany in Col. Dike's regiment. 

At various times during the war, stores were collected in 
Medford at the warehouses of Benjamin Hall, and by him sent 
down the river to Boston. Powder in large quantities, fire 
arms, beef and other supplies were "boated " to the Castle and 
to Boston. Mr. Hall charges the Honorable Board of War at 
one time, "To repacking 500 bbls. of beef and setting 1200 
hoops." Another item, dated 1780? is "To storing 16 tons of 
Cannon Balls, 18 months." 

In December the islands in the bay were fortified more 
securely. Six Medford men, under Capt. Walton of Cambridge, 
worked at Noddle's Island. These militia men had not yet 
learned that every man was not his own captain, for three of 
them — one a minute-man of April 19 — after working four days, 
went home without a discharge. The rest worked twelve days. 

December 3 another draft for the Continental army was held. 
Dr. Simon Tufts, Moses Billings, Capt. Thomas Brooks, John 
Bishop, Jr., Thomas Manning and Francis Burns were drawn, 
and each paid £10 for a substitute. Nearly all of these were 
prominent in civil affairs. Lieut. Stephen Hall, 4th, at this 
time went to Fairfield, Connecticut, under Capt. Benjamin 
Blaney, of Maiden. 

The men who had loaned money for bounty paid to the men 
who went to Ticonderoga and New York in the summer and 
fall of 1776, began to ask for payment in January, 1777, and 
the accounts were still worrying the town treasurer in the follow- 
ing September. This money had not been paid to the soldiers 
through the treasurer, but through the recruiting officers, and he 
was constantly harassed by unlocked for claims. To obviate 
this it was voted by the town that " When any future draft may 
be called for to March out of this State the Commission Officers 
be desired to consult with the Selectmen what Method is best 
to be taken and to procure the Men at the Expense of y« town." 

Stephen Hall, Esq., Rev. Ebenezer Turell, the old minister, 
Lieut. Stephen Hall and others loaned money freely in this time 
of stress. Benjamin and Richard Hall repeated their loans time 



1 8 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

and again with a poor prospect of ever receiving principal or 
interest. The Hall brothers and several other i-esidents of 
Medford loaned money to the federal government for military 
purposes. 

At the close of 1776 everything seemed against the patriots. 
The army had been driven from Canada and the town of New 
York. The soldiers were in rags, and it was almost impossible 
to induce the militia to enlist. With Washington's army at 
Morristown were a few Medford men who had enlisted for the 
war. The militia Were with Gen. Lincoln at Peekskill. 

Washington's victories at Trenton and Princeton revived the 
courage of the colonists. Messengers carried the news far and 
wide. January 4, Medford "had news of the success of our 
army at Jersey " [Dr. Osgood]. Washington immediately sent 
out some of his most trusted officers, among them Col. John 
Brooks and Capt. Thomas Pritchard of Medford, to inspire 
enlistments in the sixteen battalions of infantry and other 
branches of the service which he had authority to organize. 
In January, Francis Tufts and Jonathan Farley enlisted for the 
war. In February William Burditt and Richard Creese entered 
the artillery. At the March meeting bounty was voted to en- 
courage enlistments. Joses and William Bucknam enlisted on 
the day of the meeting, Daniel Bayley the next day, and others 
followed, until Medford had over forty men in the Continental 
army for three years or the war. 

All through the spring and summer men and women were 
busy in their several ways for the support of the army. The 
women and children carded and spun, knit and sewed the much- 
needed clothing for the soldiers ; the men attended to their stock 
of guns and ammunition. Lieut. Stephen Hall, 4th, and Lieut. 
Jonathan Porter drilled the men who had taken the places of 
the thirty-seven men which their militia company had sent to 
Gen. Washington. Midsummer brought the bad news of the 
capture of Fort Ticonderoga and the battle of Hubbardton, 
Vermont, where Col. Ebenezer Francis was killed. He was a 
native of Medford and lived there until 1766, when he went to 
Beverly. He organized a regiment and marched to Ticonderoga 



MILITARY HISTORY. 



19 



in January, i777' His chaplain said of him, "No officer was 
so noticed for his military accomplishments and regular life 
as he." 

When Burgoyne's army had been captured and were in con- 
vention in Massachusetts, a party of British officers on parole 
were strolling through West Medford and stopped at a farm- 
house where they found the mother of the colonel. In answer 
to her questions they told her that they had seen his dead body, 
and one of them produced the colonel's watch and gave it to 
her. His private papers were restored later. 

In August, 1777, Col. John Brooks and his whole regiment 
volunteered to go to the relief of Fort Stanwix, and Thatcher in 
his "Military Journal" gives the credit of the success of the 
expedition to the wit of the colonel, who suggested that a mes- 
senger with bullet-riddled clothing should be sent to the British 
camp to report the coming of a force of Americans as numerous 
" as the leaves of the trees." 

On the twenty-fifth of September news of the first day's battle 
at Saratoga came to Medford. It had been fought on the seven- 
teenth. Nearly every man who was in service from the town 
was in Gates' army. Lieut. Col. Brooks' regiment was in the 
thick of the fight. During the evening it kept Breyman's 
riflemen at bay. October 7, Burgoyne was obliged to fight or 
retreat. When the battle was at its height. Brooks again dis- 
tinguished himself. He has been called the " Hero of Still- 
water." His regiment was ordered to take a redoubt occupied 
by Breyman. He commanded Capt. Bancroft of Reading, 
Massachusetts, to lead the charge. He knew personally almost 
every man in the captain's company ; they were old friends 
and neighbors of Medford and Reading. Not hesitating an 
instant, Bancroft waved the sword and cried, "Come on, boys, 
and enter that fort ! " Then, leading his men, went over the 
parapet. Surprised at the suddenness of the assault, the enemy 
wavered, and the whole regiment rushed into the fort. The 
Medford men who made that charge were William Cutter, 
Francis Tufts, Aaron Tufts, George Tufts, Daniel Bailey, John 
LeBosquet, Henry LeBosquet, and John LeBosquet, Jr. 



20 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

Just here a Medford tradition must be modified. Brooks' 
History of Medford says that Sergt. Francis Tufts was promoted 
to adjutant on the field at White Plains. This cannot be true, 
for at that time he was at Ticonderoga. On October 7, i777i 
he was promoted to ensign, so we can save the story, but change 
the scene. 

Francis Tufts at Stillwater, seeing the standard bearer fall, 
caught up the flag, and holding it high in air, bore it at the 
head of the regiment, over the redoubt. He was commissioned 
ensign that day by Gen. Gates. Afterward he received several 
promotions, and was made adjutant in 1780. 

The day after the battle. Gen. Gates determined to attack 
Burgoyne, and sent Gen. Nixon against what he supposed to be 
a detachment of the enemy, but which proved to be the main 
army. He was warned at the last moment, and the regiment 
was saved from certain defeat. More than half of the Medford 
men were in Nixon's brigade. 

Burgoyne's surrender brought English troops to Medford, this 
time as captives. Hessians were quartered at Winter Hill, and 
officers on parole lodged at Porter's Tavern, in the market place. 
These men were very respectfully treated by the inhabitants. 
Dr. Osgood frequently received the Hessian chaplain. Benja- 
min Hall entertained him at dinner, and English officers were 
frequent guests at tea drinkings and parties. 

Capt. Caleb Brooks was stationed at this time in Cambridge, 
guarding the English troops there. Capt. Blaney of Maiden 
served there three months, and in his company were several 
Medford men. Each of them was paid one dollar by the town 
for each day's service. There were apprehensions at this time 
that the British would come from New York to rescue their 
prisoners. 

The Medford men in the Northern Army, except those under 
Col. Greaton, who remained at Albany, went into winter quar- 
ters at Valley Forge, December 19, i777* 

Capt. Bancroft wrote to a kinsman at this time, " I hope, sir, 
if my family should stand in need of your assistance you will be 
ready to afford it. It has been out of my power to do anything 



MILITARY HISTORY. 21 

for them, even so much as to send home any money ... I was 
obliged to give half a dollar for one pint of bread and milk . . . 
We have some hard trials to meet yet." All are familiar with 
the dreadful privations of the army before the winter was over. 

Rev. Edward Brooks, the volunteer at "Concord Fight," 
obtained an appointment as chaplain of the frigate " Hancock," 
in 1777' The vessel was captured the next month, and her crew^ 
were made prisoners at Halifax. The officers were placed on 
parole. 

Mr. Brooks' wife sent him money b}' Capt. Salter, one of the 
Tory prisoners of war who were to be exchanged for American 
prisoners at Halifax. 

When the ship returned it brought a letter from Mr. Brooks, 
pleading for the exchange of himself and his room-mates, thirteen 
in number. He was "exchanged for Parson Lewis," and left 
Halifax for Boston, January 29, 1778. During his imprisonment 
he contracted small pox, from the effects of which he never 
recovered. He was not able afterward to do active service 
for his country, but helped financially by contributing bounty 
money. 

As the records quaintly express it, " agreeable to the resolve 
of April 20th 1778," Medford was called upon to furnish a quota 
for the army. Seven men, members of Capt. Brooks' company, 
enlisted for nine months and arrived at the rendezvous at Fish- 
kill, June 21, 1778. These men belonged to a levy raised for 
the defense of the northern frontier, from which troops had 
been withdrawn for the campaign in the neighborhood of 
Philadelphia. At the same time three men enlisted for eight 
months and went to North River, New York. A few days 
after another detachment went to Rhode Island. This was the 
third quota sent there, eleven men having served there during 
the spring and summer of 1777. These men who enlisted in 
July, 1778, w^ere to join the five thousand men under Sullivan, 
who, with the cooperation of the French fleet, hoped to drive 
the British from the state. Owing to a great storm which 
damaged the fleet and ruined the tents and powder of the militia, 
the expedition proved a failure. 



2 2 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

In the summer of 1779 six men were sent to Fishkill, having 
enlisted for six months. These men received in the vicinity of 
thirteen hundred dollars bounty (Continental money). The 
New England troops, including militia, composed the left wing 
of the army and were stationed at West Point and its vicinity. 

In October, eight men enlisted for three months, and were 
oi\lered to Clavarack, or Cloverick, as it was spelled in Med- 
ford. The French fleet again failing the provincials, Washing- 
ton was prevented from carrying out his plan of reducing New 
York, and the three months' men not being needed, were dis- 
charged before their term expired. 

Accounts in those days are very puzzling to our understanding, 
as they were made out in lawful money, depreciated money, 
Spanish dollars and in gold. Barrett Rand, who went to 
Fishkill with the six men mentioned above, showed his good 
judgment by taking part of his bounty in corn (six bushels at 
fifty dollars), which was more stable property than Continental 
dollars. The scale of depreciation was constantly changing, 
but a few comparisons can illustrate the changed conditions. 

October 2, 1774, Capt. Moses Billings entertained the Com- 
mittee of Correspondence and charged forty shillings. February, 
1781, Mr. Thomas Bradshaw charged £193, los. for entertain- 
ing the recruiting committee. 

In 1780, Capt. Ebenezer Hall was paid £270 for eighteen 
pairs of stockings ; the same amount was charged for nine 
years' rent of the "Garrison House" in hard money. 

About this time Elizabeth Francis (Ma'am Betty, who kept 
the Dame School,) received five shillings for a pair of stock- 
ings, showing that five shillings in silver was worth fifteen 
pounds in depreciated money. 

The term of service of the Massachusetts men who enlisted 
during the early part of 1777 expired at the close of 1779- 
Efforts were made to induce them to re-enlist, but the majority 
refused. Their families were suffering at home, they had en- 
dured bloodshed and famine, and they had lost faith in the 
promises of Congress. 

The condition of John Symmes of Medford illustrates the 



MILITARY HISTORY. 23 

financial condition of all. He came home ragged and emaciated. 
He received his pay in currency, with which he bought a yoke 
of oxen He sold them later, receiving the same kmd of money, 
which he hoarded a little too long; for meanwhile its value 
had changed and he paid it all for a bag of Indian meal 

In 1780 Medford sent sixteen six months' men mto the held. 
They were provided with clothing and equipments by the 
town. Under the inspiration of the celebration of July fourth, 
thirteen men enlisted. Striplings and veterans who had seen 
service in New York made up this quota. They came home 
six months later with nothing but discharge papers m then- 
pockets, which became passports to the hearts of the people 
who kindly lodged and fed the footsore travellers. The amount 
due the men according to the sworn statement of the selectmen 
was £148, 8s. 8d. hard money. In February they had not 
received a penny of it. When it did arrive, it was in 

worthless bills. 

As these men returned in penury, there came another call for 

fourteen men for three years. ,.,,... , u ^ 

Already the little town of less than a thousand inhabitants had 
furnished over two hundred men to serve their country-many 
of them enlisting more than once. The town had sent her 
sturdiest sons; some of them were even then in Washington s 
army Where could fourteen men be found.? The selectmen 
and recruiting officers were assisted in their efforts to raise men 
and money by Jonathan Patten, Col. Richard Gary (formeriy of 
Chariestown, but during the war the tenant of the Royall House) , 
and Ebenezer Hall, Jr. A month passed ; no money and no men 
were forthcoming. The quota was at last filled in May. One 
of these recruits was Josiah Cutter, boatman, forty-seven years 
old. His name appears on the Lexington Alarm Roll. Six 
were negroes. These men were probably not all residents of the 
town. Some of the negroes bore Medford names, and may 
have been sent as substitutes by their masters. 

In 1 781 about a dozen men credited to Medford enlisted for 
the war. In 1782, three men, perhaps more, were recruited, 
but the levy of 1780 was the last large one made on the town 
during the war. 



24 



MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 



When names are found which were not common in the town, 
the men were probably apprentices in the tanneries, brick yards, 
coopers' shops, etc. Some of Medford's young men enlisted 
from other towns for similar reasons. Nathaniel Polly who was 
at work in Framingham enlisted for that town, and Jonas 
Dickson who was learning the ship carpenter's trade in Chelsea 
enlisted there. 

Essex County surnames may be accounted for by the presence 
in the town of sailors who were attached to vessels on Mystic 
River. The merchants and manufacturers of Medford owned 
quite a large fleet of sloops which plied between the town and 
the West Indies, and along the Atlantic coast. When the war 
inteiTupted trade it is probable that these vessels became pri- 
vateers, although we have as yet found no positive record. 

Benjamin Hall was interested in the galley "Willing Maid" 
(carrying four guns) sailing from Salem, 1782, Capt. John 
Savage, master. In 1781 it is recorded that a "shallop" was 
fitted out by John Bishop and Willis Hall and commanded by 
Capt. Nailer Hatch " of Medford," to carry a cargo to Con- 
necticut to be exchanged for flour or grain for the Medford 
market. Capt. Hatch was not taxed in Medford ; his home was 
in Maiden. He had served his country as captain of a militia 
company and as second lieutenant of a privateer. In 1783 he 
commanded the armed brig " Lady Washington." With such a 
man in command, the little Medford vessel did not run away 
from any craft of the enemy which by any chance could be 
taken by her guns. 

October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered. The news was 
brought to Newport by Captain Lovett on Wednesday, the 
twenty-fourth, he having left Chesapeake Bay the day after the 
surrender. The news came to Medford Friday. Dr. Osgood 
wrote in his diary that night, "It is not Doubted by y« Generalty 
but I wish to have it from authority." 

The next evening he wrote, " News of yesterday confirmed by 
authority." In all probability, Richard Creese was the only 
Medford resident who could have been at the surrender of 
Yorktown. He was in Knox's ai'tillery. 



MILITARY HISTORY. 



25 



The general rejoicing in the town was somewhat saddened by 
the news of the death at Yorktown of Col. Alexander Scammel, 
who had been stationed in Medford during the siege of Boston, 
and had been looking forward to the close of the war, when he 
could come to "that Mystical place," as he called it, to claim 
his bride. 

When peace was declared the people welcomed back the battle- 
scarred veterans, who took their old places on the farms, in the 
shops, and on the river. Here and there a place was vacant, 
but private sorrow was lost in the universal joy that peace had 
come and the country was free. 

Dr. Osgood's sermon, preached when the war cloud of 181 2 
overhung the country, voiced what every patriot had felt. "I 
have not forgotten, nor can I ever forget while consciousness 
abides with me, my own mental suffering during the period of 
our former war. Through eight long years, whose lingering 
pace, while hope was deferred and the heart sickened with pain 
and anguish, seemed without end, a burden lay upon my spirits 
by day and by night almost too heavy for frail mortal to sustain. 
. . . Thus, daily lamenting and praying against the miseries of 
the war, I passed through that most gloomy portion of my past 
life from 1775 till the transporting sound of peace in 1783." 



Soldiers and Sailors Credited to 
Medford. 



In compiling the following list of soldiers, I have used no 
names which are not distinctly credited to Medford in Town or 
State Archives or, in a few cases, Records of Pension or War 
Department. 

Medford men served in Col. Cyprian How's Regiment in 
Rhode Island, 1780. In Col. Ephraim Wheelock's Regiment 
at Ticonderoga, 1776, were eighteen "Hampshire Government 
men," who were part of Medford's quota, whose names are 
unknown. 

Gerrish's and Baldwin's Regiments at Sewall's Point, Chelsea, 
Winter Hill and on Mystic River, 1775, contained Medford men. 

In Blaney's Co., Thatcher's Regiment, February to April, 
1776, to serve before Boston, there was a large proportion of 
Medford militia. 

The roster of Capt. Hall's Co. which served at Dorchester 
Heights is badly mutilated. It contains the following surnames, 
— Greenleaf (Corp.), Tufts, Jr. (Corp.), Robbins, Watson, 

1 Tufts, Jr., Hendley, Tissick, Tufts (four men), Blanchard, 

Jr., Lawrence, Putnam, Butterfield, Teall, 1 Harris, Floyd, 

Blanchard, Dowse, ster, Francis (two men), Symonds (two 

men), Smith, Winship. These are not noted in the following 
list, but most of them can be identified as members of the militia 
in service at Lexington, or at other places in the vicinity of 
Boston, during the siege. 

Where no reference is given, service is recorded in Archives 
of State of Massachusetts. Volume and page refer to "Massa- 
chusetts Soldiers and Sailors, War of Revolution," published 
under direction of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Space 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 2'] 

here will not permit the details which can be obtained from 
these sources. 

It was my first intention to include vital statistics, etc., given 
in records of the City of Medford only, but I have gathered 
information in some cases from family histories, pension papers, 
probate records, histories of adjoining towns, and letters from 
descendants of the men recorded. 

I am indebted to Dr. E. C. Booth, historian of the Tufts 
family, Mr. W. F. Bucknam, historian of the Bucknam family 
and others, of Stoneham, Mr. B. D. Corey, historian of the City 
of Maiden, and Mr. A. G. Loring of Woburn for assistance in 
identifying many not recorded in Medford. 

Albree, John. Dana's Co., Mcintosh's Regt., March, 1776; Capt. 
Caleb Brooks' Co., Dike's Regt., Dec. 1776, 3 mos. service; vol. 1, 
p. 103. Paid money for bounty to men enlisting for Canada, July, 
1776; assisted in building hay fence at Bunker Hill. Born Nov. 9, 
1757 ; son of Joseph and Judith (Reeves) ; cousin of Gov. John Brooks 
of Mass.; lived near Rural avenue, Medford; married, Jan. 6, 1793, 
Lydia, daughter of William and Rebecca Tufts; went to Acworth, 
N. H., soon after marriage; removed to Salem, Mass.; occupation, 
general trader and tallow chandler; died in Salem, Nov. 6, 1842; 
' buried in Albree tomb, Howard Street Cemetery, Salem. 

Anthony, Jonathan (Anthoney, Antony). At Sewall's Point, 1775, and 
in R. I. 2 mos., 8 days, 1777 ; vol. i, pp. 277 and 280. Joined Canadian 
Expedition, July, 1776. (Town records.) 

Anthony, Jonathan, Jr. At Cambridge and Sewall's Point, 1775; in 
N. Y. 9 mos., 1778-79; age 25 in 1778; vol. i, p. 279. Born Jan. 
21,1753; son of Jonathan and Catherine (George) ; married Lois Wey 
of Lexington, March 6, 1777; taxed in Medford 1773 to 1778 inclusive. 
[I think Jonathan and Jonathan, Jr., refer to the same man. Jonathan, 
Sr., died in Woburn, 1807, aged 86.] Free negro. 

Anthony, William. Enlisted for 3 yrs., 1777; deserted Jan. 13, 1778; 
vol. I, p. 280. Born Sept. 14, 1759; son of Jonathan and Catherine. 
Negro. 

Bailey, Daniel (Bayley). Enlisted for 3 yrs. or the war, June, 1777; 
Bancroft's Co., Jackson's Regt. ; transferred to Invalid Corps Sept. 
I, 1779; discharged March, 1780; vol. i, p. 449; loaned money for 
bounty paid to men enlisting for N. Y., Sept., 1776; received money 



28 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

for "2 mos. deficiency in the army," Oct. 29, 1779. Taxed in Med- 
ford, 1776. One Daniel Bayley married Elizabeth Mullet of Cambridge, 
March 28, 1776. 

Bamford, Thomas. Served at Noddle's Island, Dec, 1776; vol. i, p. 557. 

Bedin, Jacob. See Bredin. 

Bernard, John. Child's Co., Grea ton's Regt. ; reported deserted; vol. 
I, p. 986. 

BiNFORD, Thomas. Loaned money for bounty paid to men enlisting 
for N. Y., Sept., 1776; received bounty for joining Continental Army 
at Cloverick (Clavarack) for 3 mos. (selectmen's order book, Oct., 
1779). Brickmaker; taxed in Medford, 1760 to 1796; married Ruth 
Tufts, May 18, 1767; died Dec. 16, 1796, aged 58; buried in Salem 
Street Cemetery, Medford. 

BiNFORD, William. Private, Lexington alarm; served at Prospect Hill, 
1775-76; vol. 2, p. 55. Born April 3, 1755; son of William and Phebe 
Manser, who were married Jan. 10, 1754. ^^ ^775' Thomas Binford was 
taxed two polls for self and William Binford. Thomas Binford was 
chosen guardian by William, a minor, 18 yrs. of age, April 8, 1773. 

Blanchard, Aaron. Served at Boston, 1776, also guarding stores at 
Boston, Dec, 1776, to Feb., 1777; paid money for bounty to recruits 
enlisting for Canada July, 1776; residence given Cambridge Precinct 
and Medford; vol. 2, p. 141. See Aaron, Jr. 

Blanchard, Aaron, Jr. Private, Lexington alarm ; paid money to 
persons enlisting to go to N. Y. ; vol. 2, p. 142. Son of Aaron (peri- 
wig maker) and Tabitha (Floyd) ; born Sept. 2, 1751 ; taxed in 
Medford, 1776, '77, '78. 

Blanchard, Andrew. Private, Lexington alarm; at Prospect Hill, 
1775-76, and at Boston, 1776-77; loaned money for bounty paid to 
recruits for army in N. Y., Sept., 1776; vol. 2, p. 143. Son of Aaron 
and Tabitha (Floyd) ; born July 21, 1754; taxed in Medford, 1775. 

Blanchard, Hezekiah. Loaned money paid to recruits going to Canada 
and N. Y., 1776; received gun and blanket money, Nov., 1776; served 
guarding stores Dec, 1776, to March, 1777; vol. 2, p. 145. Born in 
Maiden, Jan. 4, 1728; son of Samuel and Sarah (Pratt) ; married, ist, 
Susanna Dexter, Feb. 22, 1754; 2d, Sarah Hall, Oct. 6, 1763; occupa- 
tion, tavern keeper; died Aug. 24, 1803; buried in Salem Street 
Cemetery, Medford. His tavern stood on Main street, between South 
street and Cradock bridge. 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 29 

Blanchard, Hezekiah, Jr. Received bounty for joining army at Clover- 
ick (Clavarack) , 1 779 (selectmen's order book) . Enlisted for Canadian 
Expedition, July, 1776; went to Ticonderoga. (Petition for extra 
bounty, town records, vol. 3). Born Sept. 3, 1758; son of Hezekiah 
and Susanna (Dexter) ; married, ist, Elizabeth Tufts, Dec. 16, 1784, 
and 2d, Eunice Floyd, Jan. i, 1797; spent part of his married life in 
Milton, Boston, and Charlestown ; succeeded his father as tavern 
keeper; died Mar. 17, 1818; buried in Tomb 15, Salem Street Cemetery. 

Blanchard, John. Enlisted Nov., 1776, for 3 yrs.; reported deserted 
June I, 1778, but was probably taken prisoner, as he returned Mar. 20, 
1779, and was in service, 1782; age in 1781, 22 yrs.; vol. 2, p. 148. 
Received payment for bounty due him, April 22, 1791. (Town 
records.) Son of Aaron, Jr., and Tabitha (Floyd) ; married Rebecca 
Tufts, who died 1821, aged 62; died Dec. 13, 1798, aged 38; buried 
in Salem Street Cemetery. 

Blanchard, Samuel, Jr. At Prospect Hill, 1775 and 1776; lieutenant 
in Capt. Blaney's Co., 1778; vol. 2, p. 154. Son of Samuel, Jr., and 
Sarah (Cutter); born in Maiden, June 23, 1749; baptized in Medford, 
June 25; married Martha Smith of Woburn, Jan. 11, 1776; taxed in 
Medford, 1770, '78, '79, '80. 

Blanchard, Sylvanus. Loaned money to pay bounty to recruits for 
army in Canada and N. Y., 1776; served guarding troops of con- 
vention, 1778; vol. 2, p. 155- Taxed in Medford, 1777 to 1792; 
occupation, brickmaker; son of Samuel and Sarah (Pratt); born 
April II, 1738; married Sarah Grover of Maiden, Nov. 28, 1764; died 
in Maiden, Aug. 5, 1800. 

Blodgett, Nathan. Loaned money for bounty paid to recruits for army 
in N. Y., Sept. 1776; served at Noddle's Island, 1776; reported 
deserted (went home without discharge) ; vol. 2, p. 197. Born Sept. 
10, 1737; son of Nathan and Abigail (Converse); married Mary 
Whitmore, Apr. 27, 1775; taxed in Medford, 1777; non-resident 
member of Cambridge N. W. Precinct Baptist Society, 1787; resident 
of Cambridge at time of marriage. 

Bond, Joseph. At Prospect Hill, 1775; discharged June 7, 1775; vol. 2, 
p. 259. Born May 22, 1749; son of Daniel and Elizabeth Barnard 
(born Bemis) ; married Anna Lawrence May 10, 1769 (Bond's 
Genealogies) ; died Dec. 30, 1775 ; came to Medford from Watertown, 
May 12, 1773. 

Boyd, John. Enlisted for 3 yrs. for Maiden, 1777; residence, Medford; 
vol. 2, p. 359. One John Boyd came to Medford, 1765, age 4 yrs., in 
care of Wm. Faulkner. 



30 



MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 



BoYLESTONE, Thomas. Served at lines at Boston, 1776; vol. 2, p. 371- 
Son of Richard and Mary (Abrahams) ; baptized April 3, 1760; occu- 
pation, brazier, in Charlestown ; married Oct. 27, 1808, widow Mary 
(Hay) Farnsworth ; his family resided in Medford during the Revo- 
lution. (Wyman's Charlestown Families.) 

Bradshaw, Andrew. Private, Lexington alarm ; loaned money for 
bounty paid to recruits for army in N. Y., 1776; drafted to join 
Walton's Co. at Cambridge and to go to Noddle's Island ; went home 
without discharge; vol. 2, p. 422. Born Feb. 26, 1753; son of 
Stephen and Mary; taxed in Medford, 1775. 

Bradshaw, Thomas. Private, Lexington alarm ; loaned money for 
bounty paid to recruits for army in N. Y., 1776; vol. 2, p. 423. Born 
July 8, 1743; son of Stephen and Mary; married Martha Tufts, Nov. 
26, 1772; died Sept. i, 1802; received a pension; occupation, tavern 
keeper; proprietor of the " Fountain House," Salem street, Medford ; 
buried in Salem Street Cemetery. 

Bredin, Jacob. (See Bedin, vol. i, p. 883.) Served at Prospect Hill, 
1775 ; vol. 2, p. 456. Came to Medford from Maiden, with wife and 
two children, Nov. 24, 1770; taxed in Medford, 1771, '72, '73, '74; 
probably son of Samuel and Sarah, born Jan. 26, 1738-9, in Maiden. 

Brooks, Caleb. Lieutenant, Lexington Alarm ; in command of Med- 
ford company, Oct., 1775; commissioned captain, June, 1776; in 
Col. Dike's Regt. at Dorchester, Aug. and Sept., 1776, for defence of 
Boston ; guarding stores at Boston, Dec. 1776 to March, 1777 ; guard- 
ing troops of convention at Cambridge, 1778; vol. 2, p. 570. Accord- 
ing to letters of Col. Alexander Scammel, Capt. Brooks must have 
been at Ticonderoga, 1778. Baptized Oct. 30, 1737, son of Caleb and 
Mary (Wyer) ; married Jan. i, 1767, Mary Kidder, daughter of Samuel ; 
died Feb. 4, 1812; buried in Tomb No. 19, Salem Street Cemetery; 
half brother of Gov. John Brooks ; occupation, brickmaker. 

Brooks, Rev. Edward.* Volunteer at battle of Concord Bridge, April 
19, 1775; brought home a wounded English officer, a prisoner, and 
took care of him until recovery; chaplain of frigate " Hancock;" a 

prisoner at Halifax, 1777-78. (See Brooks, vol. 2, p. 567). 

Born Nov. 4, 1733; son of Samuel and Mary (Boutwell) ; graduated 
at Harvard, 1757; married Abigail Brown, daughter of Rev. John and 
Joanna (Cotton) Brown of Haverhill; died, 1781 ; buried in Oak 
Grove Cemetery, Medford. 

Brooks, John. Major, Lexington alarm; served until the disbandment 
of the army, 1783; vol. 2, p. 576. Made sub-inspector of the army by 

*His brother Samuel was one of Committee of Correspondence, Exeter, N. H. 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 3 1 

Washington, March 24, 1778, to act under Baron Steuben (autograph 
letter in Medford Public Library) ; at the battle of Saratoga, he, the 
lieutenant-colonel, was in command of Col. Jackson's Regt. ; a per- 
sonal friend of Washington, who entrusted him with several important 
missions; president of the Order of the Cincinnati in Mass., suc- 
ceeding Gen. Lincoln; governor of Mass., 1816 to 1823; there was 
never a dissenting vote to his election cast in his own town. Born in 
Charlestown (later, Medford, and now Symmes Corner, Winchester) ; 
son of Caleb and Ruth (Albree) ; baptized in Medford, May 31, 1752, 
(church records) ; studied medicine with Simon Tufts of Medford : 
began practice in Reading, Mass. ; succeeded Dr. Tufts in Medford 
at the close of the war; married Lucy Smith of Reading, 1774; died 
in Medford, March i, 1825 ; buried in a tomb in Salem Street Ceme- 
tery; monument erected to his memory in centre of the burying 
ground. For more extended account, see Histories of Medford and 
Reading. 

Brooks, Thomas, 30. At Prospect Hill, 1775-76; vol. 2, p. 587. Taxed 
in Medford, 1776-77; born June 5, 1756; son of Samuel and Abigail 
(Hastings); married Parnel Boylstone, 1786; settled in Charlestown; 
called 3d in Medford because two older men of the same name resided 
in the town. 

Brown, George. Enlisted for 9 mos. July 9, 1778, and again, June 9, 
1779, for 9 mos.; age 16; residence given Medford and Mystic; vol. 
2, p. 623. Born Jan. 18, 1766; son of Ephraim and Sarah, of Stone- 
ham. 

Brown, Jacob. Enlisted for 9 mos., 1779 ; residence Medford and Mystic ; 
vol. 2, p. 629. Born in Stoneham, Jan. 31, 1749-5°; son of Ephraim 
and Dorothy; married Ruth Knight of Stoneham, Aug. 26, 1773; 
resident of Stoneham, 1784. 

Brown, James. Enlisted May 17, 1781, for three yrs. ; age 22; occupa- 
tion, mariner; vol. 2, p. 633. Son of Ephraim and Sarah, of Stone- 
ham. (History of Stoneham.) 

Bryant, Ebknezer. Received money for enlisting to go to the Castle 
(selectmen's order book, Oct. 3, 1779). Son of Capt. Joseph and 
Elizabeth Bryant of Stoneham; born Sept. 7, 1758; yeoman; married 
Sarah, who afterward married James Putney ; Ebenezer's will, dated 
June 19, 1804, was filed Aug. 11, 1804. 

BucKNAM, Ebenezer (Bucknam, Buckman). Enlisted for 6 mos., 1780; 
age 17 ; vol. 2, pp. 758 and 763. Taxed in Medford, 1783. (See James.) 



32 



MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 



BucKNAM, James. Enlisted for 6 mos., 1780; age 17; vol. 2, pp. 757 and 
764. Possibly son of James and Mary (Goddard), who came from 
Maiden, 1764. In the list of their children the names James and 
Ebenezer appear. 

BucKNAM, James, Jr. Private, Lexington alarm; vol. 2, p. 764. Prob- 
ably same as James Bucknam, who served in Hall's Co., at Prospect 
Hill, 1775. Taxed in Medford for first time, 1777; married Margaret 
Sables, Feb. 12, 1778. Called Jr. because another of the same name, 
older than he, lived in Medford, 1775. 

Bucknam, John. Private, Lexington alarm; served under Walton at 
Cambridge and Noddle's Island ; vol. 2, p. 759. Loaned money for 
bounty paid to men enlisting for Canada, July, 1776, and N. Y., Sept., 
1776. Taxed first in Medford, 1769, and every year thereafter until 
1779, when he resigned office of highway surveyor, as he was going 
out of town; taxed as non-resident until 1781, when he again appears 
as resident, until 1798; married Phebe Bucknam, 1776. 

Bucknam, JosES. Militia service, 1776-77; enlisted for 3 yrs., March 3, 
1777; vol. 2, p. 764. Made prisoner Feb. 3, 1780 (Records War 
Dept.) ; confined in prisons in England and Ireland; residence given 
Maiden, Shirley and Medford. Son of Joses and Mary (Sprague) 
Bucknam. He was brought up by his grandfather, Bunker Sprague; 
married Nabby Hay of Reading, Sept. 19, 1786 ; went to Mason, N. H. ; 
his widow died in Glenburne, Me. (W. F. Bucknam.) 

Bucknam, William. At Prospect Hill, 1775; enlisted for 3 yrs., 1777 
and for 6 mos., 1780; age (1780) 21 yrs. ; made sergeant Aug. i, 1780; 
vol. 2, p. 765. Born in Maiden, April 30, 1759; son of James and 
Mary (Goddard) ; taxed in Medford, 1780 to 1803 ; died in Medford 
April 2, 1823. Pensioner. Pension certificate does not mention 
service at Prospect Hill, but records that he was in Hale's Co., Stark's 
N. H. Regt., from Jan. i, 1776, to Jan. i, 1777, beside the service for 
three years and a half, as above. Another, William Bucknam, went to 
Claremont, N. H., and the Prospect Hill service may belong to him. 
William Bucknam, 2d, appeared in Medford, 1803. 

BuRDiTT, William. Loaned money to pay bounty to men enlisting for 
Canada, 1776; enlisted for 3 yrs., 1777; sergeant of artillery artificers; 
vol. 2, p. 828. Married Mary Oakes, Feb. 2, 1784; her gravestone is 
in Salem Street Cemetery; he died June 13, 1788; first taxed in Med- 
ford, 1771. Jos. Burditt, Jr., of Maiden, died 1749; children, Jacob, 
Jesse, Joseph, Nathan, Tabitha, and William. One was a posthumous 
child, born between Sept., 1749, and Sept., 1750. (Index, Probate 
Office, original paper missing, 1902.) 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 33 

BuRNAM, John. Enlisted for 3 jrs. or the war, 1777 ; residence also given 

Maiden; vol. 2, p. 887. 
BusHBY, Robert. Enlisted in Sargent's N. H, Regt., 1775; enlisted for 3 

yrs., 1777 ; vol. 2, p. 933. Born Jan. 30, 1748 ; son of Robert and Mary. 

BuTTERFiELD, Abel. Private, Lexington alarm; served at Prospect Hill, 
1775, and at Dorchester Heights, 1776, vol. 2, p. 960; also enlisted 
for Canadian Expedition, 1776; went to Ticonderoga; (petition for 
extra bounty, town records, vol. 3.) Born in Menotomy, Dec. 30, 
1759; son of William and Mehitabel (Chamberlain) ; married Frances 
(Calef) Pool, widow of Richard, Jan. 5, 1783; died Oct. 23, 1793; 
taxed in Medford 1779 to 1793. 

Butterfield, Stephen. Served at lines at Boston and at Noddle's Island, 
1776; vol. 2, p. 965. Born in Menotomy, Dec. 30, 1759; son of Wil. 
liam and Mehitabel (Chamberlain) ; taxed in Medford, 17S0 and 17S1. 

Callender, John. Private, Lexington alarm ; served 5 days ; vol. 3, p. 
30. Taxed in Medford, 1774-75. Probably son of Eleazer Callender 
and Sarah (Hillar) Bound of Boston; born Sept. 19, 1747; died in 
Alexandria, Va., Oct., 1797. Captain lieutenant, Gridley's Regt. of 
artillery; enlisted April 25, 1775; captain June i, 1775. At battle 
of Bunker Hill, ammunition was sent him which could not be used in 
his guns; he retreated, was accused of cowardice and cashiered; 
exonerated and restored to rank by Washington. He was a prisoner 
at Long Island, August, 1776; exchanged; served in artillery from 
1777 to 1782; vol. 4, p. 30. 

Cambel, Thomas. Served in R. I., 1777; vol. 3, p. 39. 

Carril, John. Enlisted for 3 yrs., May 4, 1781 ; age 24; vol. 3, p. 144; 

served for Woburn, 1777, '80; a stranger there. 
Gary, Wenham. Name given also William and Windham ; enlisted, 1778, 

for 6 mos. ; age 35 ; vol. 3, p. 179. Taxed in Medford, 1778 and 1779. 

See Windham or Wenham Carey or Carrey of Boston. Negro, age 

40; vol. 3, pp. 138, 141. 
Clark, John. Private, Lexington alarm; vol. 3, p. 595. Probably son 

of John and Mary (Smith), born June 10, 1752. The Boston Gazette 

and Country Journal, March 12, 1770, gives in a list of wounded at 

Boston Massacre, "a lad named John Clark, about 17 yrs. of age, 

whose parents live in Medford, apprentice to Capt. Samuel Howard." 

Clark died in Medford, May 26, 1778. 
Clefton, Joseph. Private, Lexington alarm. Paid money to persons 

going to Canada, 1776; vol. 3, p. 617. Married Abigail Hadley, Nov. 

10, 1774; living in Medford after 1800. 



34 



MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 



Cole, Richard. Private, Lexington alarm ; in service at Prospect Hill, 

1775; enlisted for Qiiebec, Sept. 12, 1775; vol. 3, p. 780. 

CoNERY, Daniel (Conorj, Conrj, Connerj). Private, Lexington alarm ; 
at Prospect Hill, 1775 ; vol. 3, pp. 889 and 903. Came from Stoneham 
to Medford, May 8, 1764, with widowed mother, Sarah ; taxed first in 
Medford, 1764. 

CoNERY, Peter. Private, Lexington alarm ; vol. 3, p. 889. Brother of 
Daniel mentioned above; born in Stoneham, June 24, 1747; son of 
John and Sarah; taxed first in Medford, 1768; married, ist, Mary 
Fowle, Oct. 13, 1774; 2d, Elizabeth Wakefield, June 9, 1777; died in 
Stoneham, Feb. 4, 1802. In 1764, the head of this family was Isaac, 
brother of Daniel and Peter. On pages 8S9, 907, and 908, vol. 3, there 
is given the service of Isaac, Daniel, and Peter (residence not stated) 
in companies that are known to hare been made up in part from 
Medford. Isaac married Hannah Jackson, Feb. 5, 1766. 

CoocH, Isaac. Private, Lexington alarm ; vol. 3, p. 916 (probably Cook). 

Cook, Isaac. Enlisted for 3 yrs., 1777; reenlisted for 6 mos., 1780; age 
23; vol. 3, p. 925. Born, 1757; from Charlestown, 1759, with Joseph 
and Margery (Dickson), his parents; from Bowdoinham to the East- 
ward, 1766; from Charlestown, 1771; taxed in Medford, 1781 to 1787. 
Isaac Cook, son of Joseph Cook, late of Cambridge, laborer, age "20 
yrs. last Jan.," chose Benj. Teel of Medford to be his guardian, March 
^Ti ^7T7- Feb. 14, 1816, Polly Cook, widow of Isaac, late of Charles- 
town, victualler, who died " within 60 days past," asked that an 
administrator of his estate be appointed ; he died in West Cambridge 
and left six " infant children." 

Creese, Richard (Creas, Crease, Creass, Creese). Drafted to serve at 
Noddle's Island and Cambridge, Dec, 1776; served guarding stores 
at Boston, 3 mos., Dec, 1776, to Feb. i, 1777; in Continental Army, 
Feb. 22, 1777, to May 15, 1779; loaned money to pay bounty to men 
going to Canada, 1776; vol. 4, pp. 99, 100, 103. Born in Roxbury, 
March 14, 1732-3; son of Richard (mariner) and Elizabeth (Tucker); 
married Hepsibah Cook, Dec. 4, 1755 ; he is buried in Eustis Street 
Cemetery (Roxbury), Boston, Mass. 

Crowell, Aaron (Croel). Private, Lexington alarm; corporal in ser- 
vice at Prospect Hill, 1775 ; vol. 4, pp. 130 and 185. Came to Medford 
with his wife and family, 1751 ; died Feb. 24, 1795. 

Cutler, William (See William Cutter). Enlisted, Nov., 1776, for 3 yrs. 
for Beverly. In service, 1780. 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 



35 



Cutter, Ebenezer. Received money for joining Continental Army at 
Cloverick (Clavarack) for 3 mos. (selectmen's order book, Oct. 22, 
1779). Occupation, blacksmith ; son of Daniel and Patience (Hall) ; 
born Jan. 23, 1758, in Medford ; married Mehitable Morrison, Oct. 3, 
1784. He removed from Medford to Newburyport; lost his left arm 
in 1785 by explosion of cannon; pensioner. See other service under 
name Ebenezer Cutler; vol. 4, p. 321. 

Cutter, Josiah. Private, Lexington alarm ; in service at Prospect Hill, 
1775; enlisted for 3 yrs., 17S0; age 47. Son of Nathaniel and Eliza- 
beth; baptized March 7, 1734; taxed in Medford, 1765 to 1790; wife's 
name, "MoUie"; his bounty was paid by Rev. Edward Brooks. 
(Usher's History of Medford, p. 165.) 

Cutter, Josiah. Enlisted for 6 mos., 1780; age 16; vol. 4, p. 332. Possi- 
bly son of Josiah mentioned above, as height, complexion, etc., are 
alike in both descriptions, but there is no record of birth in Medford. 
Josiah Cutter, nephew of above and son of Nathaniel and Submit 
(Whitcomb) of Sudbury, was born May 7, 1763. 

Cutter, Samuel, of Charlestown, ensign in Capt. Hall's Co. 37th Regt. 
of Foot, and at Bunker Hill. Son of Samuel and Anne (Harrington) ; 
married Susanna, daughter of Ebenezer and Rachel (Tufts) Francis 
of Medford, 1757 ; killed by being thrown from a wagon, 1791 ; buried 
in Arlington. 

Cutter, William (Cutler, Cuttler). Residence given, Medford, Beverly 
and Charlestown; ordered to join Paterson's Regt., Nov. 17, 1776; 
Francis' Regt. at Bennington, enlisted Feb. 12, 1777, for 3 yrs.; in 
service for Beverly, 1778; Tupper's Regt., 1780; vol. 4, pp. 335, 336, 
345. Son of Samuel and Susanna (Francis), born July 15, 1759; 
married, ist, Hannah Cutter, April 29, 1783 ; 2d, Lydia Cutter (widow), 
Nov. 9, 1818; died in West Cambridge (Arlington), Nov. 28, 1846; a 
monument erected by friends is inscribed, "A soldier of the Revolu- 
tion who served during the war and was for many years a pensioner. 
He was in several engagements and once made a prisoner, though 
always distinguished for his bravery." A nephew of Col. Ebenezer 
Francis; taxed in Medford, 1784, '85, *86, and '88. 

Cutter, William. Bancroft's Co., Jackson's Regt. ; enlisted for 3 yrs. 
or the war; mustered at Boston, March 16, 1777; Wade's Co., same 
regiment, Jan. to March 10, 1780; enlisted March 20, 1780, in Greaton's 
3d Mass. Regt. ; at West Point, Jan. 25, 1781, age 21 ; in service, Sept. 
I, 1783; vol. 4, p. 336. Son of Ebenezer and Eleanor (Floyd), born 
Feb. 24, 1759; married, June 21, 1789, Rebecca (born, 1765), daughter of 



•^5 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

John Cutter of Medford and Mary (Hill) ; called Jr. at time of marriage; 
he was foreman in one of the Medford distilleries; afterward kept toll 
house at Cambridge bridge; died in Boston, July 27, 1800, and was 
laid in Granary burying ground ; Rebecca, his widow, a resident of 
Medford, drew a pension, 1840; their daughter, Rebecca, married 
Isaac Sprague, a ship builder of Medford. (Cutter genealogy and 
pension records.) Taxed in Medford, 1784, '85, '86, '88. [The town 
records give date of birth as above, but other records, one year later.] 

Davis, Jonathan. Private, Hall's Co., Lexington alarm ; at Prospect 
Hill, 1775, and '76; enlisted for 3 yrs., 1777; vol. 4, p. 514. Taxed 
in Medford, 1775. Cutter's History of Arlington says, "Jonathan 
Davis and Hephzibah Winship, residents — perhaps because of the 
military occupation and environment of Boston, 1775-76 — married, 
29, Feb., 1776, in Menotomy "; also, "Jane Hinds, born 1758, married, 
1st, Jonathan Davis, and 2d, Francis Locke." 

Dexter, Paul. Private, Lexington alarm ; served at Prospect Hill, 1775 ; 
drafted to serve at Noddle's Island and Cambridge, 1776; loaned money 
to pay bounty to men enlisting to go to N. Y., 1776; vol. 4, p. 725. 
Jos. Bucknam was appointed guardian, 1747, of Paul, age 6 yrs., son 
of Timothy Dexter, late of Leominster. Moses Bucknam became his 
guardian, 1757. (Probate records.) Taxed first in Medford, 1766; 
held various town offices; died in Medford, Dec. 31, 1808. Paul Dex- 
ter of Boston married Elizabeth Wade of Maiden, March 24, 1767. 
(Maiden records.) 

Deckson, Asa (Isaac Dickson.'). Served 6 mos., 1780; vol. 4, p. 632. 

Dickson, Isaac (Dixon). Joined Canadian Expedition, July, 1776; went 
as far as Ticonderoga. (Town records.) Enlisted for 6 mos., 17S0; 
age 22; vol. 4, p. 756. Born in Medford, March 21, 1758; son of 
Josiah and Anna (Francis), daughter of Samuel of Medford; parents 
came to Medford from Charlestown, 1755; taxed in Medford, 1778. 

Dickson, Jonas. Private, Lexington alarm, Chelsea Co. ; served at Cam- 
bridge, 1775; in Baldwin's Regt., April, 1776; enlisted for 3 yrs., 
1777; residence, Medford and Chelsea; vol. 4, pp. 757 and 801; re- 
ceived a pension; baptized, Sept. 21, 1755; son of Josiah and Anna 
(Francis) ; married Elizabeth Gill, May 27, 1783; died Oct. 25, 1821 ; 
buried in Salem Street Cemetery. 

Dowse, [Samuel .']. Served at Dorchester Heights, March, 1776; vol. 4, 
P- 938- 

Dunster, William. Enlisted for 6 mos., 1780; vol. 5, p. 69. 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 37 

Earl, William. Seaman, Ship Alliance, under Paul Jones; enlisted at 
Nantes, France, Nov. 21, i779; discharged at Boston, Sept. 6, 1780; 
lost one leg in battle; on list of pensioners made up from Dec. 31, 
1781, to Dec. 31, 1787, age 22; vol. 5, P- ^Si- Taxed in Medford, 

1788 to 1813; occupation, tailor; married Martha ; had five 

daughters and one son born in Medford. Died in Suffolk Co., Mass., 
Sept. 12, 1821. (Pension records.) 

Edes, Pomp or Pompey. Enlisted for 3 yrs. for town of Concord, 1777 ; 
residence given Medford and Boston; vol. 5, p. 211. 

Farley, Jonathan. Private, Hall's Co., Prospect Hill, 1775 ! transferred 
to artillery, April 28, 1775; served at Hull, 1776; enlisted for the war, 
1777; age 28, in 1782; residence given Medford and Stoneham ; vol. 
5, p. 501. 

Farrington, William. Fifer, Lexington alarm; enlisted for 3 yrs., 
1777; reported drummer, 1780; received 200 acres of land, or $20 in 
money, iSoi ; residence, Maiden, 1801 ; vol. 5, p. 5SO- Married Ruth 
Batts of Maiden, Sept. 29, 1789; occupation, cordwainer; widow, 
Ruth, asks that estate be administered, April 7, 1802. Ruth married, 
2d, John Oliver. (Probate records.) Also, see History of Maiden 
(Corey), p. 814. 

Fisher, John. Enlisted for 9 mos., 1778; reenlisted for 9 mos., 1779; 
age 23; "engaged for Medford " ; vol. 5, p. 701- 

Florence, Abraham (Flourance). Enlisted, 1777. for 6 mos. in R. I. ; 
reenlisted Dec. 18, 1777, until Jan. i, 1778; vol. 5, p. 807. One Abra- 
ham Florence of Boston married Dorcas Sylvester, Nov. 30, 178S. 
(Boston records.) 

Floyd, Andrew (Floyed). Private, Lexington alarm; served at lines in 
Boston, March 19 to April 5, 1776; loaned money to pay bounty to 
men going to Canada, July, 1776; drafted to serve at Noddle's Island 
and Cambridge, 1776; vol. 5, p. 812. Received bounty for joining 
army at Clavarack (selectmen's order book, Oct. 22, 1779-) Taxed in 
Medford, 1771 to 1782; married Elizabeth Bradshaw of Medford, Oct. 
31, 1765; residence at that time, Roxbury ; died in Cambridge Nov. 
12', 1789. Probably served in R. I., 1780, in Col. Cyprian How's Regt. 
One of several Medford names found on this roster, vol. 5, p. 809. 

Floyd, Benjamin. Private, Lexington alarm; served at Prospect Hill, 
1775; at Noddle's Island, Dec, 1776; loaned money to pay bounty to 
men enlisting for Canada and N. Y., 1776; vol. 5, pp. 810 and 812. 
Occupation, mason; died June 5, 17981 aged 64; buried in tomb, 
Salem Street Cemetery. 



38 



MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 



Floyd, Benjamin. Served in R. I., i yr. from Jan., 1776. (Pension rolls.) 
Enlisted July, 17S0, for 6 mos. ; age 27 (archives of Mass. and records 
of War Department). Born in Medford, Jan. 9, 1753; son of Benja- 
min and Ruth; married Martha Savels, Jan. 7, 1779; died Oct. 2, 1823, 
aged 71; buried in Salem Street Cemetery. Martha drew a pension 
as his widowr. 

Floyd, Benjamin. Served in Continental Army, Feb., 1777, to Dec. 31, 
1779; reported deserted, 1780. 

Francis, Benjamin (Frances). Served at Prospect Hill, 1775; vol. 6, p. 
6; also, 2 mos. in R. I., 1777; vol. 6, p. 2. How's Regt. in R. I., 
1780; no residence given; (6th name, vol. 6, p. 6). Probably son of 
Benjamin and Lydia (Converse) ; born Sept. 6, 1759 ; died in Baltimore ; 
uncle of Lydia Maria Child, the abolitionist. 

Francis, John. Served at Dorchester Heights, March, 1776; loaned 
money to pay bounty to men enlisting to go to Canada and N. Y., 
1776; vol. 6, p. 8. (See John, Jr., son of Lieut. John.) 

Francis, John, Jr. Private, Lexington alarm; vol. 6, p. 9. Son of 
Lieut. John and Dorothy (Coffin), born, 1736; taxed first in Med- 
ford, 1757; married Jane Teel, June 3, 1777; died, 1786. Called Jr. in 
1775, because his kinsman, John (born, 1724, died April, 1776), was 
living in Medford. 

Francis, John, Jr. Paid money for bounty to men going to Canada and 
N. Y., July and Sept., 1776; vol. 6, p. 9. Probably son of John and 
Deborah (Carter) of Medford; born April 6, 1760. 

Francis, Joseph. Served at Prospect Hill, 1775; vol. 6, pp.3 and 10; 
served 3 mos., 1781, age 39; no residence given; vol. 6, p. 3 (9th 
name). Born June 17, 1741 ; son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Harris). 

Francis, Nathaniel. Served at Prospect Hill, 1775-76, and at Dorchester 
Heights, March, 1776; vol. 6, p. 11 ; also, 2 mos. in R. I., 1777; vol. 
6, p. 3. Enlisted in Canadian Expedition, 1776. (Town records, vol. 
3.) Taxed in Medford, 1778, 'So; son of Nathaniel and Phebe (Frost), 
born Oct. 13, 1752. Died in Sterling, Mass., in Jan. or Feb., 1812. 

Freeman, Primus. Served 9 mos., 1778, age 36; bounty paid by Heze- 
kiah Blanchard, Jr., vol. 6, p. 49. Taxed in Medford, 1778, '79, and 
'80. Free negro. Probably came from Reading; family took the 
name Freeman when fieed from slavery. (History of Reading.) 
Warned out of Medford, 1784 and 1791. 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. ^9 

Fulton, Robert. Drafted for service at Noddle's Island and Cambridge, 
1776; enlisted for 3 yrs., 1777; in service, 1781 ; vol. 6, p. 201. Resi- 
dence given Boston ; vol. 6, p. 199. He came from Boston to Med- 
ford about 1774, when patriots began to leave the town; taxed in 
Medford, 1776 to 1786. Robert (of Boston) married Elizabeth Ingra- 
ham, Aug. 3, 1769. 

GiBBS, James. Sergeant, residence given Medford, Sudbury and Charles- 
town ; enlisted for 3 yrs., 1777; in service, 1782; served 6 yrs.; vol. 
6, P- 383- Residence, 1818, Charlestown, Mass.; born in Scotland, 
1752; died Feb. 6, 1825; married Abigail Stimson of Charlestown, 
Feb. 4, 1777; she was pensioned as his widow. 

GowEN, John. Served at lines at Boston, 1776; vol. 6, p. 694. Probably 
son of Hammond and Mary (Crosswell), born in Charlestown, July 
31, 1760; taxed in Medford as a non-resident, 1783 to 1789. 

Green, Isaac. Served in Medford, 1775; residence Lexington; vol.6, 
p. 806. Enlisted for 9 mos., 1778; age 23; sergeant, July 8, 1777, to 
Jan. I, 1778, in R. I.; vol. 6, p. 807. Also served in N. Y. Son of 
Samuel Green of Lexington, Stow and Charlemont, Mass. Born in 
Stow, June, 1756; man-ied Eleanor Tufts of Medford, Feb. 5, 1778; 
died Feb. 27, 1790; occupation, cordwainer; was an apprentice in 
Lexington, 1775, but resided in Medford after marriage. 

Green, Thomas. Served at Tiverton, R. I., May 29 to July i, 1779; vol. 
6, p. 836. Received bounty from Town of Medford. 

Greenleaf, Isaac. Loaned money for bounty paid to men enlisting for 
Canada and N. Y., 1776; served at Noddle's Island, 1776; vol. 6, p. 
850. Born in Medford, May 27, 1744; son of Stephen and Mary; 
married, ist, Mary Tufts, Dec. 17, 1772; 2d, Sarah Rhodes, April 30, 
1778; died Feb. 20, 1807. 

Greenleaf, Jonathan. Corporal, Lexington alarm. (See company 
roll.) Served at Dorchester Heights, 1776; loaned money for bounty 
paid to men enlisting for Canada and N. Y., 1776; vol. 6, p. 850. 
Born June 9, 1754; son of Gardiner and Catherine; married Joanna 
Manning, May 5, 1778; died Aug. 13, 1801. 

Griffin, Robert. Engaged for Town of Medford, 1779 ; age 49 ; deserted 
at Springfield; vol. 6, p. 885. Received bounty from Medford. 

Guest, Michael (Gest, Gess). Enlisted, March 16, 1781, for 3 yrs.; 
"engaged for Medford"; age 26; occupation, farmer; vol. 4, p. 370. 



40 



MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 



Hadley, David. Private, Lexington alarm ; loaned money to pay bounty 
to men enlisting to go to N. Y., 1776; vol. 7, p. 16. Taxed in Medford, 
1776-82; came from Stoneham, 1762; born in Stoneham, Sept. 11, 
1744; son of Samuel and Abigail (Richardson); married March 16, 
1769, Eunice Richardson ; lived in Medford, on the east side of Spot 
Pond. 

Hadley, John. Private, Lexington alarm; vol. 7, p. 17. Born in Stone- 
ham, Aug. 23, 1749; son of John and Sarah (Williams). 

Hadley, Moses. Private, Lexington alarm; loaned money to pay bounty 
to men going to Canada, July, 1776; vol. 7, p. 18. Taxed in Medford, 
1776 to 1782 ; son of Samuel and Abigail (Richardson) ; born Aug. 
22, 1756; came to Medford with parents from Stoneham, 1762 ; married 
Mary Peirce, Nov. 19, 1776; of Charlestown, 1791 ; bridge-keeper at 
Cambridge bridge. 

Hadley, Samuel, Jr. Private, Lexington alarm ; loaned money for 
bounty paid men going to Canada, July, 1776; vol. 7, p. 19. Came 
with wife Rebecca (Knight) from Stoneham to Medford, 176S; son of 
Samuel and Abigail (Richardson) ; born Oct. 13, 1732; lived next to 
his brother, David (see above), just south of Stoneham line, Fulton 
street; died 1803 or 1804; taxed in 1803, but not in 1804. 

Hadley, Thomas. In Bond's Regt., 1776. (Pension paper.) Received 
money, Oct. 3, 1779, from Town of Medford for enlisting to go to the 
Castle, probably for service recorded vol. 7, p. 20. Born in Stone- 
ham, July 29, 1758; son of Anthony and Abigail (Green); married 
Mary Nagle of Stoneham, May 8, 177S; taxed in Medford, 1780; resi- 
dent of Medford, 1818. 

Hall, Francis. Private, Lexington alarm; at Prospect Hill, 1775-76, as 
sergeant; commissioned 2d Lieut., 1776; lieutenant at Winter Hill, 
1778; vol. 7, p. 79. Taxed in Medford until 181 1, probable date of 

death; married Elizabeth , who died 1810; son of Stephen Hall, 

Tertius, and Sarah (Keisar) ; brother of Lieut. Stephen Hall, 4th. 

Hall, Isaac. Captain of Medford company, Lexington alarm; served 
at Prospect Hill, April 19, 1775, to Sept. i, 1775, and at Dorchester 
Heights, March, 1776; vol. 7, p. 82; was at Battle of Bunker Hill; 
acted as deputy commissary for Continental Army, 1775-76. Son of 
Andrew and Abigail (Walker); born Jan. 24, 1739; married Abigail 
Cutter, Oct. 8, 1761 ; occupation, distiller; died Nov. 24, 1789. In' 
Aug., 1789, he disposed of all his property and left no will; his wife 
died Sept. 25, 1825. 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 4 1 

Hall, Moses. Sergeant, Lexington alarm; at Dorchester Heights, 
March, 1776; loaned money to pay bounty to men going to N. Y., 
Sept., 1776; loaned money to United States Government for war pur- 
poses. Son of Capt. John and Mary (Keisar) ; born 1750; married, 
ist, Martha Sprague of Maiden, Nov. 28, 1775; married, 2d, Hannah 

; lived in Charlestovvn in later years; occupation, distiller; 

taxed in Medford, 1771 to 1789. 
Hall, Prince. EnHsted for 9 mos., 1778; age 30; vol. 7, p. 105- Re- 
ceipt signed by himself for bounty received on enlistment can be seen 
at state archives. Free negro; taxed in Medford, 1778 and 1779; he 
was the author of a petition to the House of Representatives urging 
the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts. He was the founder of 
Free Masonry among negroes, receiving his degrees from a military 
lodge, consisting of British soldiers, in Boston, March 6, 1775. Married 
Phebe, a slave of Mrs. Lydia Bowman Baker, of Boston, who set her 
free. Their home was on Phillips street, Boston, where he died Dec. 
7, 1807. See archives of Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F. and A. M. 
Hall, Prince. Enlisted for 3 yrs., April 7, i777; died Dec. 18, 1778; 
vol. 7, p. 105. Rev. David Osgood records in his diary, April i, 1777, 
" Prince ran away last night." Mr. Osgood at that time boarded with 
Mr. Richard Hall, whose negro servant, Chloe, married Prince, a negro 
servant of Stephen Hall, Esq., Sept. 15, 1772. 
Hall, Stephen, 4TH. Ensign, Lexington alarm; commissioned ist 
Lieut., June 17, 1776; served under Capt. Blaney, Thatcher's Regt., 
which was ordered to Fairfield, Ct., on or before Dec. 16, 1776; com- 
pany contained thirteen Medford men; loaned money for bounty paid 
to men going to Canada, 1776; vol. 7, p. 112. Served as recruiting 
oi!icer and drill master in Medford all through the war; committee of 
safety, 1777; loaned money to the United States Government for mili- 
tary purposes. Son of Stephen Hall, Tertius, and Sarah (Keisar) ; 
born Jan. 3, 1745; married Mary Hill of Menotomy (Arlington), July 
12, 1770; died in Revere, 1817. 
Hall, Timothy. (Also given, Timothy, Jr.) Drummer, Lexington 
alarm; served at Prospect Hill, i775; died at Ticonderoga, Sept. 18, 
1776; vol. 7, p. 114. Son of Timothy and Mary (Cutter) ; born Oct. 
H-> 1753- 
Hamon, John (Hammond.?). Enlisted for Southborough, 1777, for 3 

yrs. ; residence Medford ; vol. 7, p. 196. 
Hanker, Cato (Hancock). Enlisted for S mos., 1778; served in New 
York ; vol. 7, p. 228. Cato Hancock was taxed in Medford, 1777 ; Cato 
Hanker, 1779; owned real estate in Medford; veteran of French War. 
One Cato Hancock married, in Boston, Nancy Faddy, July 3, 1791. 



42 



MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 



Harris, John. Enlisted for 3 yrs., 1777; in service, 1780; vol. 7, p. 345. 
Probably son of Josiah and Millicent (Estabrook) of Charlestown ; 
born Jan. 31, or Feb. 5, 1752. 

Harris, Samuel. Served at Dorchester Heights, 1776; enlisted for 3 
yrs.; return dated Feb. 19, 1778; died in service. May 19, 1778; taxed 
in Medford, 1771, 1772 and 1775; he was in business as a baker in 
Charlestown, but lost his property by fire, June 17, 1775, and returned 
to Medford; married Elizabeth Hall, Nov 25, 1773; she, with her 
children, received state aid; the estate of Samuel Harris received 
bounty due him, May 2, 1785. Son of Josiah and Millicent (Esta- 
brook) ; born Aug. 15, 1749; his estate was administered by his father, 
Josiah. (Probate records.) 

Hendley, Charles. Served at Dorchester Heights, March, 1776. Taxed 
in Medford, 1774 to 1781 ; occupation, master cooper; came from 
Boston to Medford. 

HoLDEN, Daniel. Enlisted, 1779, for 9 mos. ; age 16; vol. S, p. 98. 
Served for Stoneham, 17S0; age 17. Son of John and Mary, of Stone- 
ham ; born Oct. 15, 1763; married Hannah Green of Pepperill, March 
10, 1796; residence at that time, Charlestown. 

Jackson, Thomas. Enlisted May 21, 1781 ; age 28; occupation, mariner; 
vol. S, p. 690. 

Kemp, John. Private, Lexington alarm; served 8 mos., 1775-76; vol. 9, 
p. 85. Taxed in Medford, 1775. 

Kendall, Jonathan. Served i yr. in Continental Army, from Jan. i, 
1778; in service for Woburn, 1777. Born Sept. i, 1751 ; son of Joshua 
and Esther (Buck); married, Dec. i, 1774, Joanna Brooks; died in 
Charlestown, 1795; gravestone. 

King, Samuel. Served 6 mos., 1780; age 42; engaged for town of Med- 
field ; residence given Medford. Perhaps an error; vol. 9, p. 270. 

Lawrence, Jonathan (Lawrance). Private, Lexington alarm; loaned 

money to pay bounty, Sept., 1776. Married Mary ; children 

born in Medford: Jonathan, 1779; Mary, 1780; Jonathan, 1782; 
William Pitts, 1784. Taxed in Medford, 1772 to 1783; wife admitted 
to church in Medford from church in Cambridge, 1782 ; he was admitted 
to church in Medford, June 10, 1781 ; died in Ashby, Mass. ; will dated 
May 30, 1817, filed June 26, 1817; widow, Mary, administratrix; only 
child living, William P., had been an inhabitant of Tennessee for 
twelve years previous to 1817. (Probate records.) 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 



43 



LEBosquET, Henry. Served 3 jrs., Jackson's Regt., 1777 to 17S0; 
fifer; vol. 9, pp. 402, 621. Son of John and Sarah (Brooks); born 
Feb. 21, 1763. 

LeBosquet, John. Served 3 yrs., Jackson's Regt., 1777-S0; artificer; 
vol. 9, pp. 402, 403, 621. In battles of Bemis Heights and Monmouth ; 
born Dec. 20, 1737; son of Henry and Lydia (Scottow) of Charles- 
town; married Sarah Brooks, sister of Gov. Brooks; occupation, 
brazier. 

LEBosquET, John, Jr. Fifer; served 3 jrs., Jackson's Regt., 1777-80; vol. 
9, pp. 402, 403, 621. Born, 1761 ; son of John and Sarah (Brooks). At 
age of 16 he entered the army at Cambridge; he was at Ticonderoga 
and Valley Forge, and in battles of Bemis Heiglils and Monmouth. 
When term of enlistment was over, he went as cabin boy on a merchant 
vessel which was captured by the British and taken to Halifax. While 
the captain was alone with the prisoners (the crew having gone ashore 
for water), the captives overpowered him and started in an open boat 
for Boston, where they arrived safely. He was in France at the time 
of the French Revolution. In 1S12 he was captain of a vessel, and 
was taken prisoner and detained in Liverpool over a year. He com- 
manded vessels in East India trade. He married Mary Brooks and 
lived at her birthplace at Symmes Corner (now Winchester), which 
was the house where Gov. Brooks was born. For nearly twenty years 
Capt. LeBosquet was a cripple from paralysis. He died April, 1844, 
and was buried in his tomb, Salem street, Medford, with military 
honors. (Luther C. Symmes in Winchester Press.) 

Leathe, Richard (Leithe). Craft's Co., Greaton's Regt.; reported 
deserted; age 23; vol. 9, p. 610. Son of John and Elizabeth (Wait) ; 
born Nov. 10, 1753. Living in Medford, 1781. His father, who died, 
iSoi, mentions Hannah, daughter of son Richard, deceased. Her 
guardian was Stephen Dana. 

Leithe, John. Served i mo. at lines in Boston, 1776; paid money for 
bounty to men enlisting for Canada, July, 1776, and N. Y., Sept., 
1776; vol. 9, pp. 610, 665. Born Oct. 26, 1742; died Oct. i, 1S15 ; 
son of John and Elizabeth (Wait). Bequeathed all his property to 
his brother, Francis ; called yeoman ; signature, John Leathe. 

Manning, Thomas. Served 8 mos., 1775, and guarding troops of con- 
vention, 1778; vol. 10, p. 175; served 8 mos., in N. Y., Poor's Regt., 
1778-79; corporal; receipt for bounty bears signature; vol. 10, p. 194. 
Son of Thomas and Sarah (Wyman) ; born, 1750; married Rebecca 
Tufts, 1774; residence at that time, Salem; Taxed in Medford, 1776; 
yeoman. 



44 



MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 



Mansir, Ebenezer. Served S mos., 1778; receipt for bounty bears sig- 
nature; vol. 10, p. 203. Son of John of Charlestown, who lived in 
Medford during the war; born Jan. 6, 1760; married Elizabeth Brown 
of Boston, Nov. 23, 1781. 

Marten, Francis. Received bounty from Town of Medford, 1779, for 
enlisting for 3 mos. (selectmen's order book). 

Mason, Aaron, i mo. service at the lines at Boston, 1776; served 3 yrs., 
1777-80, for the Town of Woburn ; vol. 10, p. 311. Son of Aaron and 
Abigail (Reed) of Woburn; born Sept. 27, 1753; died in Woburn, 
June 3, 1838. " Left no widow or children living." Pensioner. 
(Probate records.) 

McFiTEH, John. Enlisted for 3 yrs., 1780; age 23; blacksmith; birth- 
place Germany; residence Medford; vol. 10, pp. 112, 488. 

McLane, Uriah. Received bounty from Town of Medford for going to 
N. Y., 1776; residence, Woburn; served 3 yrs., 1777-81; vol. 10, pp. 
534 and 538. Son of Charles McLaine of Chelmsford; at age of 17 
(March 6, 1767), he chose Samuel Perham guardian. (Probate 
records.) Name also written Uriah and Uri McLaine. 

McNamar, Peter or Patrick. (McNamara, McNamer, McNamor.) 
Residence Mystic, Medford, and Charlestown; corporal, Hall's Co., 
Bond's Regt., 1775; Greaton's Regt., 1777-82; vol. 10, pp. 562 and 
563. Gave age in 1781, 31 yrs., and in 1818, when he applied foi- 
pension, 76 yrs. ; residence, 1818, Boston. 

Mead, John. Loaned money to pay bounty to men going to Canada. 
July, 1776, and to N. Y., Sept., 1776; served before Boston, 1776, and 
guarding troops of convention, 1778; vol. 10, pp. 580, 584. Son of 
Israel and Mary; born Feb. 22, 1755; married Katherine Blanchard, 
May 18, 1786; died July 16, 1812 ; occupation, tanner. 

Mitchell, Peter. Served at Sewell's Point, 1775; vol. 10, pp. 839 and 
851. Enlisted for Canadian Expedition, July, 1776. (Town records.) 
Taxed in Medford, 1775-76; his wife died in Medford, May 30, 1776. 

NowiLL, George. Served in Continental Army, 1777 to 1781. One 
George Nowell, son of George and Elizabeth (Whitney), was born in 
Boston, Sept. 3, 1742. 

Oakes, John. Enlisted for 3 yrs., 1777; enlisted for the war, 1779. 
Born July 12, 1759; son of Edward and Joanna (Griffiths) ; died Oct. 
12, 1799; buried in Salem Street Cemetery. 

Osgood, David, Rev. Chaplain in Stark's N. H. Regt., 1775. Son of 
Capt. Isaac and Elizabeth (Flint) ; born in Andover, Mass., Oct. 25, 
1747; married Hannah Breed, Nov. i, 1786; died Dec. 12, 1822; pas- 
tor of First Church in Medford, 1773 to 1822 ; buried in Tomb No. 21, 
Salem Street Cemetery. 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 45 

Pain, Richard. Private, Lexington alarm ; served at Prospect Hill, 1775 ; 
died in service, Aug. 13, I775- Came to Medford with parents, Stephen 
and Anna, 1753; came from Amesbury with wife Eunice, Dec. 2, 1765. 

Peirce, Benjamin. Private, Lexington alarm; 8 mos. service, 1775-76. 
Baptized Dec. 9, 1744; son of Thomas and Sarah (Martin) ; married 
Ruth Smith of Woburn, May 24, 1768; taxed 1765 to 1776 in Medford. 

Peirce, Nathaniel. Enlisted for Canadian Expedition, 1776; went to 
Ticonderoga. (Town records.) Served 8 mos., 1775-76; served 9 
mos., 1778-79. Pensioner. Son of Nathaniel and Patience (Totman) ; 
born Oct. I, 1750; in Town of Harvard, 1807; died in Medford, July 
28, 1821 ; left widow, Mary. 

Peirce, Richard. Enlisted for the war, 1776; received money due for 
bounty, May 2, 1785; taxed in Medford, 1785 and '86. Born Jan. 6, 
1754; son of Nathaniel and Patience* (Totman); married in Cam- 
bridge, Oct. 21, 1784, Anna Dickson (born, 1752); was drowned, 
Aug. 16, 1797; resided in Medford until 1788, when he removed to 
Charlestown. 

Peirce, Titus. Enlisted for 3 yrs., 1780; age 28; negro. 

Peirce, William. Enlisted, 1775, under Capt. Ebenezer Francis. [Wil- 
liam, son of Nathaniel and Patience; born Nov. 16, 1745. William, 
son of Thomas and Sarah, born July 17, i747- There is nothing in 
military or town records to determine whether either of these was the 
soldier.] 

Pelham, Cato. Enlisted for 3 yrs., 1780; age 30; negro. 

Person, James (Pierson, Pearson). Served 3 mos. as drummer, 1776. His 
first wife, Bathshua, died between March 26, 1775, and June 6, 1776; 
married 2d, Anna Bond, June 6, 1776 ; [was she widow of Joseph Bond, 
who died, 1775.']; died Nov. 17, 1790; taxed first in Medford, 1771. 

Pike, Benjamin. Served 6 mos., 1778 (archives). Received bounty 
from Town of Medford, Jan. 5, 1779 (selectmen's order book). 

Polly, Robert. Served in R. L 6 mos., 1777 ; received bounty from 
Town of Medford. Probably son of Jacob and Hannah (Scolly) and 
brother of William, wounded April 19, i775 ; born Aug. 11, 1752; 
taxed in Medford, 1776-77. Robert Polly of New London married 
Jane Harris of Medford, 1775; of Menotomy, 1781 ; baptized in 
Menotomy April 14, 1776; age given then, 22 yrs.; birthplace, Med- 
ford; his wife died in Charlestown, iSii; he was living in Medford, 
April, 1828. Applied for pension, 1818. 
*Town records say " Eunice," but she was the wife of Robert Peirce (see church records). 



46 



MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 



Polly, William. Private, Lexington alarm. Son of Jacob and Hannah 
(ScoUy) ; born Feb. 2, 1757 ; died April 25, 1775, from wounds received 
at Menotomv on the retreat of the British from Concord, April 19. 

Polly, William. Enlisted, 1780, for 6 mos. ; age 19 (archives). Received 
bounty for enlisting to go to Clavarack, Oct. 22, 1779 (selectmen's 
order book). Son of John and Jemima (Nichols) ; born Oct. 4, 1760; 
taxed in Medford, 1785. 

Porter, Jonathan. Commissioned 2d Lieut., July 27, 1776; loaned 
money to United States Government. Came to Medford from Maiden, 
1773; proprietor of the Royal Arms Tavern, Medford; land on which 
it stood is still (1903) in possession of his descendants; son of Dr. 
Jonathan Porter; married Phebe Abbott of Andover, Nov. 7, 1790; 
died Nov. 4, 1817; buried in tomb in Salem Street Cemetery. 

Pritchard, Thomas. Sergeant, Lexington alarm ; served 8 mos., 1775-76, 
and immediately after the Evacuation of Boston enlisted for the war; 
commissioned captain, Col. Greaton's Regt. ; commended for bravery 
and fine tactics; sent home as a recruiting officer by Washington, 
when reenforcements were especially needed. Born in Boston, Aug. 
31, 1751 ; son of William and Atterlante ; married Lucy Tufts, daughter 
of William and Anna (Francis), Feb. 22, 1775; died June 7, 1795, 
aged 43; occupation, cooper; taxed first in Medford, 1774. 

Putnam, Eleazar. Private, Lexington alarm; 2d Lieut., 1776; served 
3 mos. guarding troops of convention, 1778; loaned money for bounty 
paid to men enlisting for Canada and N. Y., 1776. Came to Medford 
from Charlestown with wife Mary, 1765; owned covenant in Cam- 
bridge Precinct Church (Menotomy), Nov. 24, 1765 ; born in Danvers, 
June 5, 1738; son of Henry, mentioned below; died in Medford, Nov. 
20, 1804. Family tradition says that one of his sons served as drum- 
mer for the Medford company, April 19, 1775, to March 17, 1776. 
Owned land on High street, Medford. 

Putnam, Henry. Killed at Menotomy on retreat of British, April 19, 1775. 
Served as lieutenant at capture of Louisburg, 1758. Born at Danvers, 
Mass., Aug. 14, 1712; came to Medford from Charlestown, 1765, with 
wife Hannah ; she died in Newburyport. 

Putnam, Roger. Served i mo. at lines at Boston, 1776; loaned money 
to pay bounty to men going to Canada, July, 1776, and to N. Y., 
Sept., 1776. Son of Henry and Hannah Putnam ; taxed first in Med- 
ford, 1776; married Sarah Brothers, daughter of Mary, wife of Thomas 
Richardson (family came from Reading, 1763), Oct. 13, 1774; died 
Oct. 27, 1794. 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 



47 



Rand, Barrett. Served at Fort No. 3, 1775; enlisted in 1779 for 9 mos. 
in Continental service ; age 40. Came to Medford 1778 or 1779 ; taxed, 
1780. Son of Joseph and Deborah (Nurs) ; born Oct. 29, 173S; 
married Susanna Hopkins, Sept. 15, 1760; died March i, 1788; occu- 
pation, hatter; served as a soldier, 1757; grandfather of Mrs. Ljdia 
Maria Child. 

Rand, Jack. Enlisted for 3 yrs., April 27, 1781 ; age 28; negro. Also 
served for Woburn, 1777-80. 

Rand, Nathaniel. Served at Fort No. 3, 1775, and guarding troops of 
convention, 1778. Taxed in Medford, 1776-81. Probably ferryman, 
of Charlestown; house destroyed, June 17, 1775; took refuge in 
Medford. Son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Brigden) ; married, ist, 
Frances Phillips, March 23, 1743; ^d, Sarah Stacy, June 21, 1759: 
3d, Hephzibah Larkin, March 28, 1763; died in Charlestown, Sept. 
9i 1795* Had daughter Sarah who served as scout to warn colonists 
of approach of British before battle of Bunker Hill, and son Nathaniel, 
Jr., born March 25, 1747, who was taxed in Medford, 1779. 

Ransford, Thomas. Loaned money for bounty, Sept., 1776; enlisted 
for 3 yrs. ; return dated, 1778. Served also for Cambridge. 

Reed, Daniel. Drummer, Sargent's Regt. ; return dated, Oct. 6, 1775; 
enlisted for 3 yrs. as drum major; return dated, 1778. Son of Seth 
and Lydia (Cutter) ; born April 10, 1742 ; married Dorothy Billings, 
of Medford, April i2, 1762; died Aug. 22, 1801 ; belonged to Baptist 
Church of Menotomy, 1787. 

Reed, Joshua. Enlisted for 3 yrs.; return dated, 1778; Child's Co., 
Greaton's Regt. 

Reed, Joshua, Jr. Private, Hall's Co., 1775; enlisted for Quebec, Sept. 
12, 1775. Joshua Reed was taxed in Medford, 1775; possibly these 
two names refer to the same man. Son of Joshua and Sarah (Dix) ; 
born June 29, 1755 (.?). 

Rice, Thomas. Enlisted for 3 yrs., 1781; occupation, farmer. 

Richardson, Abel. Private, Lexington alarm. Born in Woburn, Jan. 
12, 1750-1 ; son of Nathan and Mary (Peirce) ; married Anna Tufts, 
Dec. 26, 1775; died Sept., 1824; aged 74; taxed in Medford, 1774 and 
1775 ; taxed in Woburn, 1776 to 1780. 

Richardson, James, Jr. Private, Hall's Co., Prospect Hill, 1775. Prob- 
ably of Woburn ; not taxed in Medford. 

RoBBiNS, Nathaniel. Served before Boston, 1776; probably served 
as substitute, as a boy too young for regular military service might 
work building fortifications; no other service recorded. Son of 



48 



MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 



Thomas and Sarah (Gould) ; born May i6, 1762 ; came to Medford 
from Cambridge with parents, Dec. 3, 1764; his father was taxed 
in Medford, 1764 to 1774. 

Rouse, Benjamin. Loaned money for bounty, July, 1776, and Sept., 
1776; served guarding troops of convention, 177S. Taxed in Medford, 
1769 to 1790; married Elizabeth French, April 13, 1769; died June 25, 
1797 ; a veteran of French and Indian War. 

RoYALL, Sam. Enlisted Nov., 1780, for the war. 

RuMRiLL, Abner. Served 8 mos. at Prospect Hill, 1775; also in service, 
1777, '78, and '79. Born in Medford, March 15, 1755; son of John 
and Mary (Peirce) of Charlestown, who were married, 1749; married 
in Newton, Sept. 30, 1779, Sally Binford. 

RuMRiLL, Isaac. Served 8 mos. at Prospect Hill, 1775; son of John and 
Mary, born June 25, 1757. John, the father of these two men, was 
born in Old Dunstable about 1721, and died Jan. 29, 1763; he served 
in the French and Indian War. 

Sargent, Abel. Residence, Medford; enlisted for Templeton for 3 yrs; 
return dated, 1778. 

Sargent, Reuben. Served in R. I., 1777; enlisted for 3 yrs., July 9, 
1777; residence, Medford ; enlisted for Woburn. 

Sason (.''), William. Enlisted for 3 yrs., 1782; signature on receipt. 

Savels, Benjamin. Private, Lexington alarm ; served 8 mos. at Prospect 
Hill, 1775-76. Came from Cambridge to Medford, 1764. 

Savels, Thomas. Private, Lexington alarm ; served 8 mos. at Prospect 
Hill, 1775-76; sergeant; enlisted for 3 yrs., 1777; reenlisted for 6 mos., 
1780 ; age 30. Son of Joseph, Jr., and Martha (Prior) Sables or Savels, 
who came from Boston to Medford, Feb. 8, 1758; married Miriam 
Royall, Dec. 23, 1773 ; died in Medford, April 30, 1801, aged 51 ; buried 
in Salem Street Cemetery ; name written Sables on tombstone. 

Seccomb, Francis. Enlisted for 3 yrs. ; return dated, 1778; negro. 

SiMONDS, Joshua. Corporal; served guarding troops of convention, 1778. 

Son of Joshua and Rebecca ; born March 18, 1758; married 

Abigail Tufts, Nov. 24, 1779; died Feb. 20, 1833; lived in house on 
Simonds Hill, High street. 

SiMONDs, . Two men served at Dorchester Heights, March, 1776. 

Probably Joshua (above) and Jude (see civil list). 

Skillings, Pollador (Polledore Skinnings). Enlisted April 2, 1781 ; 
age 19; negro. Lived in Charlestown, 1803. 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 49 

Smith, John. Private, Lexington alarm ; served 8 mos. at Prospect Hill, 
1775. Taxed in Medford, 1773 to 1782; son of John and Abigail 
(Stratton); born Aug. 12, 1743; carried Oct. 26, 1763, Mrs. Marj 
Whitney; joined 2d Precinct Church, Woburn, 1764; came to Med- 
ford from Woburn, 1773. 

Smith, William. Enlisted for i yr., Jan. 1, 1778; passed muster at 
Concord, July 22, 177—- 

Steward, Amasa. Enlisted for 3 yrs., May 16, 1782; signature on re- 
ceipt. Bounty paid to Jeremiah (see treasurer's records). One 
Jeremiah Steward or Stewart was taxed in Medford, 1778, '79, and '80; 
had seat in Cambridge N. W. Precinct meeting house, 1781. 

Stickney, Benjamin. Fifer ; served i yr. from Jan., 1778 ; passed muster, 
July 22, 177—; signature on original papers in Mass. archives. Benj. 
Stickney, born in Byfield, was a fifer in another regiment at this time. 
This man may been the Benjamin born in Hampton, N. H., Feb. 5, 
1744, who served in French war and died at sea, unmarried. 

Symmes, John. Served 8 mos. at Prospect Hill, 177S-76 (archives) ; at 
battle of Bunker Hill; served 5 mos. in Wheelock's Regt., 1776. 
Private Gerrish's Regt., 1777 ; (pension records). Enlisted for 3 yrs., 
1777; spent one winter at Ticonderoga (Symmes Memorial). He 
was a wheelwright and blacksmith at Symmes Corner, Medford (now 
Winchester) ; son of John and Abigail (Dix) ; born Aug. 16, 1755 ; 
married Elizabeth Wright, Oct. 31, 17S0 (marriage fee, $100) ; died 
June 24, 1834; buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. 
Symmes, Josiah. Served i mo. at lines in Boston, 1776. Son of John 
and Abigail (Dix); baptized Sept. 3, 1758; married Elizabeth John- 
son ; he was over 50 when he married ; died about 1828. 
Symmes, Zechariah. Served 3 mos. guarding troops of convention. 
1778; loaned money for bounty paid to soldiers going to N. Y., Sept., 
1776 \ loaned money to United States Government. Son of Zechariah 
and Judith (Fames) ; born in Woburn, now Winchester, Oct. i, 1744; 
married Rebecca Tuttle. His father left him a handsome property in 
1793, and he then became the proprietor of the Black Horse Tavern, 
just over the old Medford line. Taxed in Medford, 177S to 1785 ; he 
and his wife were admitted to Church in Medford, Jan. 26, 1776. 
Teall, Samuel (Teel). 2d Lieut. Dorchester Heights, March, 1776. 
Born 1749; son of Samuel and Jane (Dickson); baptized 1755; 
married Ruth Walker, Nov. 5, 1772; died Feb. 25, 1832; aged S3; 
buried in Tomb No. 17, Salem Street Cemetery. 
Teel, Gershom. Corporal, Lexington alarm ; served 8 mos. at Prospect 
Hill, 1775-76. Born in Charlestown; son of Samuel and Jane (Dick- 



50 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

son) ; baptized June 29, 1755; married Susanna Adams, Oct. 3, 1776; 
died Dec. 8, 1822; taxed in Medford, 1776, '82 and '83; of Lunenburg, 
1777. Samuel Teel, his son, who died in Medford, 1861, was born in 
Lunenburg, 1778. Children baptized in Menotomj, 1788 and 1791. 

Thompson, Ebenezer. Served guarding troops of convention, 1778; 

loaned money for bounty, Sept., 1776. Married, ist, Esther , 

who died May 26, 1777; aged 23; 2d, May 21, 1778, Katherine Green- 
leaf, daughter of Gardiner; she was born 1756, and died Sept. 22, 1793 : 
married, 3d, Hannah Tufts, Nov. 20, 1794; she died, 1836; aged 80; 
he died March 5, 1800; taxed first in Medford, 1776. 

ToRRY, Thomas. Enlisted for 3 yrs., 1781 ; occupation, farmer; age 21 ; 
negro. 

Tufts, Aaron. Enlisted for 3 yrs., return dated Feb., 1778; enlisted for 
8 mos., 1780; age 19. Son of William and Susanna; born Dec. 18, 
1761. Probably Aaron, who died in Old Mill Prison, England, 
Sept. 18, 1781. 

Tufts, Benjamin. Served guarding troops of convention at Cambridge, 
1778; loaned money to pay bounty July and Sept., 1776. Son of 
Benjamin and Mary (Hutchinson), born Nov. 15, 1731 ; married, ist, 
Esther Lynde ; 2d, Lydia Francis; died Jan. 14, 1804; aged 73; buried 
in Salem Street Cemetery. 

Tufts, Caleb. Served 3 mos., 1776. Taxed in Medford, 1785; son of 
Samuel and Hannah (Tufts) ; born Sept. 5, 1762 ; married, 1787, 
Rebecca Burrows; settled in Mystic, Conn.; died in Mvstic, 1852; 
occupation, brick-layer and farmer. 

Tufts, Cato (Turfts). Served at Bunker Hill, Prescotfs Regt. ; in 
service, Oct., 1775. 

Tufts, Daniel. Private, Lexington alarm ; worked with team at Dor- 
chester Heights, March, 1776; 2d lieut. of militia, 1781 ; loaned money 
to pay bounty, Sept., 1776. Born, 1753; son of Nathan and Mary 
(Adams) ; married Abigail Tufts, sister of Benjamin, mentioned 
above, June 12, 1775; died in Charlestown, Mass., April 27, 1839; 
buried in Phipps Street Cemetery, Charlestown ; lived near Powder 
House, Somerville; land where his house stood set off from Medford 
to Charlestown, 1811. 

Tufts, David. Served guarding troops of convention, 1778; joined 
Continental Army at Clavarack, 1779. Enlisted for Billerica for 3 yrs., 
1781. Son of William and Mary (Francis) ; born June 17, 1763; died 
July 6, 1823, in Lynn; married, ist, Mary Massey ; 2d, Elizabeth 
Mansfield ; 3d, Eunice Hart. First regular express driver in Lynn ; 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 5 I 

kept a hotel corner Federal street and Market Square, Lynn. Ancestor 
of Col. Gardiner Tufts. 

Tufts, Ebenezer. Private, Lexington alarm; served guarding troops 
of convention, 1778; at Noddle's Island, 1776; loaned money to pay 
bounty to men goingtoN.Y., Sept., 1776. Son of James; born, 1737; 
married Abigail Cook, April 23, 1760; died Feb. 26, 1809; buried in 
Salem Street Cemetery. Taxed in Medford, 1757 to 1802, also 1806, 
'07, and '08. 

Tufts, Ebenezer. Enlisted for i yr., 1776; was in battle of Trenton; 
also served in R. L, 1780, in Col. Cyprian How's Regt. Son of Wil- 
liam (noted for bravery at siege of Louisburg), and Catherine (Tufts) ; 
born, 1761; married, ist, Hannah Levistone, 1781 ; 2d, Elizabeth 
Traverse, 1S02. He was a nephew of Lieut. Moses Tufts, his mother's 
brother. Pensioner. 

Tufts, Francis.* Enlisted for Canada, July, 1776; went as far as 
Ticonderoga. (Town records.) Served in Continental Army 3 yrs. ; 
promoted several times; distinguished himself at Saratoga; his orderly 
book was forwarded to the Pension Department, but never returned. 
He was born in Lancaster, Mass., son of William and Mary (Francis) 
of Medford, 1756; married Hannah Greenleaf, June 12, 1775; died 
Aug. 18, 1823; occupation, distiller. 

Tufts, George. Loaned money to pay bounty, July and Sept., 1776; 
enlisted for 3 yrs., 1777; reported deserted; was at home, sick, Dec. 
10, 1780. Son of William and Catherine (Wyman) ; married Eliza- 
beth Hartwell, 1767; married, 2d, Mary , who survived him: 

died Aug. 25, 1796. 

Tufts, Issac. Sergeant, Lexington alarm ; at Dorchester Heights, March 
1776; loaned money for bounty paid to men going to N. Y., Sept., 
1776; loaned money to United States Government. Born 1744; son 
of James and Lydia (Hall); died 1823; married Martha C. Frost 
April 16, 1769. Lived on College Hill, then called Walnut Hill, near 
site of Tufts College. 

Tufts, James, Jr. Private, Lexington alarm; served 8 mos., 1775-76; 
loaned money for bounty, July and Sept., 1776. Son of James and 
Tabitha (Binford) ; born 1755; married Elizabeth Hay; died 1810. 
With son James he kept a public house, and afterward had a pottery 
on south side of Mystic river, just off of Main street; property taken 
for Mystic River Reservation, 1900 ; buried in Salem Street Cemetery. 

♦Promoted to ensign at Saratoga by Gen. Gates. Brooks' History incorrect. See text. 



52 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

Tufts, John. Corporal, Lexington alarm; served 8 mos., 1775-76. Son 
of Peter and Anne (Adams); born 1754-5; married Elizabeth Perry ; 
died Sept. 10, 1839; lived on Sycamore street, Somerville, in house 
now (1903) occupied by Somerville Historical Society, Lee's Head- 
quarters, 1775. 

Tufts, Jonathan. Private, Lexington alarm ; served at lines in Boston, 
1776. Born, 1739; son of James and Lydia (Hall) ; married Elizabeth 
Holden before 1764; died Sept. 26, 1784; buried in Salem Street 
Cemetery. 

Tufts, Moses, ist Lieut. Hall's Co. at Dorchester Heights, March, 1776 
(archives). Went on Canadian Expedition, July, 1776 (town records). 
Schoolmaster in Medford ; son of William and Catherine (Wyman) ; 
baptized Oct. 7, 1744; married Phebe Thompson, 1767. Lived on 
Salem street nearly opposite Ashland street. 

Tufts, Nathan, Jr. Loaned money to pay bounty, Sept., 1776; served 
guarding troops of convention, 1778. Son of William and Susanna; 
born, 1750; married Sarah Trefrey Feb. 22, 1776; died March, 1819. 

Tufts, Peter, Jr. Private, Lexington alarm ; loaned money for bounty 
paid to men enlisting July and Sept., 1776; served guarding troops of 
convention, 1778. Son of Peter and Anne (Adams) of Winter Hill; 
born 1753; married Hannah Adams; died 1836. Lived in house 
occupied at one time by his cousin Daniel, opposite Powder House ; 
through his influence his homestead lot was set off to Charlestown 
in 1811. 

Tufts, Samuel. Private, Lexington alarm , loaned money to pay bounty 
July, 1776 (archives). Committee of safety, 1779 (town records). 
Son of Joseph and Lydia (Francis); born Aug. 16, 1732; married 
Hannah Tufts; died 1818; aged 86; gravestone, Salem Street Ceme- 
tery. 

Tufts, Samuel. Private, Walton's Co. at Noddle's Island, 1776; wages 
paid to his father, Joseph Tufts. Born 1759 or 1760; his mother's 
name was Hannah ; married Martha Upham ; died in Westford, 1818 
or 1819; occupation, dyer. 

Tufts, Samuel. Enlisted in King's Co., Marshall's Regt., April 13, 1777 ; 
transferred to Invalid Corps, May, 1779; corporal, Turner's Co., 
Tupper's Regt., 1781 ; age 24. Received $20 for military service, 
Jan. 18, 1802. Born Feb. 21, 1758; son of Ichabod and Rebecca 
(Francis) ; married Mary ; had children born in Boston. 

Tufts, Samuel. Enlisted, 1780, for 6 mos.; age 19. Son of Samuel 
and Hannah (Tufts) ; born April, 1761; taxed 1781. 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 53 

Tufts, Samuel, 3D. Private, Lexington alarm ; paid money for bounty 
to men going to N. Y. (Called Jr., 1776.) Born 1752; son of 
William and Mary (Francis) ; married Margaret Hodgkins of Ipswich 
before 1779; died Nov. 20, 1815; gravestone in Salem Street Cemetery. 

Tufts, William. Served at lines at Boston, 1776; in Col. Wesson's 
Regt., 1777. Son of William and Catherine (Tufts); born 1762; 
killed 1777. 

Tufts, William, 4TH. Joined army at Clavarack, 1779, for 3 mos. ; 
signature on original receipt for bounty in archives. 

TuTTLE, Adam. Enlisted for 3 yrs., April, 1781 ; age 22 ; occupation, 
farmer; negro. 

Tyler, Moses. Served in R. I., 1779- 6 mos. (archives and selectmen's 
order book). He also served 6 mos. in 1776, and 6 mos., 1780; was 
at battle of Yorktown (pension papers). Son of Moses and Eleanor; 
born 1757, in Woburn ; married Anna (Kendall) Monroe June 28, 
1770 ; residence probably Woburn. After the war went to Lunenburg ; 
in 1S32 a resident of Harvard; age 74. 

Tyssick, Joseph. In Brooks' Co., Thatcher's Regt., 1778; age 20. Son 
of Ralph and Rebecca (Myrick) ; born May 10, 1758; died Sept. 19, 
1813; came to Medford from Charlestown with his mother, 1775; 
married Isabel Winship Sept. 20, 1784; taxed in Medford 1780 to 1803, 
except 1793, '96 and '97. 

Tyssick, Samuel. Enlisted for 6 mos., 1780; age 18; born Feb. 28, 1762. 
Son of Ralph and Rebecca (Myrick) ; brother of Joseph ; came to 
Medford, 1775. 

Verder, Samuel. Enlisted for 3 yrs., i777- Married, ist, Hannah 

(family tradition). Came to Medford with wife Beulah and 

children, Hannah and Elizabeth, from " Newtown," 1766 ; Mrs. Verder 
died Oct. 25, 1782; married Phebe Dexter, April 30, 1783; died Dec. 
22, 1793. 

Vinton, David. Private, Lexington alarm; served on Privateer, True 
Blue, which captured a British snow. Vinton was put on board as 
one of a prize crew ; the snow was recaptured, and Vinton was carried 
a prisoner to Halifax ; exchanged June 28, i777- He enlisted again 
on brigantine. Hazard; served from Oct. 23, 1777 to May 20, 1778. 
Died in Medford Dec. 3, 1778; aged 32 ; buried in Salem Street Ceme- 
tery ; his wife, Mary Gowen, daughter of Hammond, and a child six 
weeks old, died Sept., 1775. 



54 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

Wade, James. Sergeant at Prospect Hill, 1775. Son of Samuel Wade; 
born 1750; married Mary, daughter of Rev. Edward Upham of New- 
port. His father owned land where the Fountain House stood, Salem 
street. 

Wait, Darius. Served at lines at Boston, 1776 (archives). Received 
bounty for going to Ticonderoga, 1776 (selectmen's order book). 
Same as Uriah Wait in petition for bounty, town records, vol. 3. 
Born April 9, 1757 ; son of Timothy and Joanna. 

Wait, Jacob. Loaned money for bounty, July, 1776. Received bounty 
for enlisting in army (selectmen's order book, Feb. 17, 1777). Taxed 
in Medford, 1781 ; born June 5, 1759; son of Timothy and Joanna; 
occupation in 1789, glazier; died Jan. 23, 1801. 

Wait, Timothy. Served in army 6 mos., 1778 (selectmen's order book, 
July 18, Sept. 23 and Dec. 23, 1778). Born April i, 1761 ; son of 
Timothy and Joanna. 

Wakefield, Thomas. Private, Lexington alarm ; at Prospect Hill, 1775 ; 
received money for bounty coat, Jan. 8, 1776. Son of Samuel and 
Elizabeth; born Nov. 10, 1756; died Jan. 28, 1776. 

Warren (see Woren). 

Warren, Thomas. Enlisted for 3 yrs.. Poor's New Hampshire Regt., 
return dated Feb., 1778. Son of Dea. Isaac and Elizabeth (Reeves) ; 
born Dec. 21, 1755. 

Watson, Isaac. Private, Lexington alarm ; paid money to men going 
to Canada, July, 1776. Son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Whittemore) ; 
baptized Oct. 30, 1748; married Ruth Locke Sept. 26, 1771; occupa- 
tion, saddler; owned land near Highland avenue and High street; 
taxed in Medford, 1774 to 1797. 

Whitmore, Francis. Served at lines in Boston, 1776; loaned money 
for bounty, July and Sept., 1776. Taxed in Medford, 1766 to 1792; 
son of Capt. Francis and Mary (Hall) ; born Aug. 16, 1741 ; he was 
the last of the family name to reside permanently in Medford ; married 
Elizabeth Bowman Dec. 30, 1764, at Menotomy. He was in business 
with his father "on the Kennebec" in 1770. 

Whitemore, John. At Prospect Hill, 1775. Probably son of Capt. 
Francis Whitmore and Mary (Hall) ; born Nov. 25, 1754. 

WiLKiNS, Amos. Enlisted for 3 yrs., April, 1781; occupation, farmer; 

age 17. 



SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CREDITED TO MEDFORD. 



55 



WiLLEY, Nathan. Served in R. I., 1779; taxed in Medford, 1790 to 1793; 
born in Stoneham, Jan. i, 1756; son of James and Hannah (Haj). 
He was born in the south part of town, near Spot Pond; married 
Priscilla Hadlej. While in Medford they lived opposite the junction 
of Fulton and Highland streets ; house was burned, 1842. He died 1799. 

Williams, John. Served at Prospect Hill 1775 and 1776. [Name appears 
on tax list 1764 to 1771. In 1774 Rachel Williams, widow of John, 
sold her property on Salem street, nearly opposite the present site of 
Mystic Church. Possibly John and Rachel were parents of this soldier. 
Rachel died, 1785, and bequeathed property to John Williams, her 
grandchild, also son Ebenezer and several daughters.] 

WiLLsoN, Andrew. Corporal; served in R. I., 1777. Andrew and 
Joanna (Winship) of Menotomy were married July 5, 1757, and a son, 
Andrew, was baptized May 28, 1758. 

Wilson, Joseph. Served at lines at Boston, 1776, and 6 mos., 1778. 
Taxed in Medford, 1780, '81, '82. Probably son of Edward Wilson of 
Menotomy and Lucy Francis of Medford; baptized Oct. 28, 1759; 
married Elizabeth Caldwell, March 6, 1785. 

Woren, Samuel. Enlisted for 3 yrs., 1782. 

Wyman, James. Served at Prospect Hill, 1775. Son of James Wyman, 
town treasurer, and Susanna (Cutter); born Jan. 21, 1757; married, 
1st, Mehitabel (Bacon.?) ; 2d, Mary Gill, 1817; occupation, carpenter; 
Went to Keene, N. H. 

Yearney, Sampson. Enlisted for Canadian Expedition, July, 1776 (town 
records). Enlisted for Town of Concord, 1777; residence Medford; 
free negro. Name written Orney, Yarnee, and Yarner. Son of 
Sampson and Hannah (Anthony), who were married March 16, 1747. 
Sampson, Sr., was a slave of Peter Seccomb, who died 1756. After 
his master's death, Sampson bought his time and was made free. 
The wife of Sampson, the soldier, became the wife of John Greenough, 
the village fiddler. 



PATRIOTIC CITIZENS. 

THE FOLLOWING LIST IS MADE UP OF CIVIL OFFICERS AND OTHERS, 
NOT SOLDIERS, WHO AIDED THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM BY 
LOANS TO TOWN, STATE OR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. 

Angier, Abigail, widow. Loaned money to United States Government. 

Born Abigail Watson, daughter of Jonathan and Abigail (Bradshaw) ; 

baptized Nov. 2, 1729; married Samuel Angier, April 29, 1762. He 

died Aug. 22, 1775; aged 53; he was a graduate of Harvard, 1748; 

taught school in Medford and preached for several years, but was 

probably never ordained. Mrs. Angier was taxed in Medford 1775 

to 1779. 
Bacon, Samuel. Loaned money to pay bounty to men enlisting for 

N. Y., Sept., 1776. Married Anna Mead Nov. 29, 1759; died Feb. 

12, 1778; taxed first in Medford, 1758. 

Bishop, John. Loaned money to United States Government. Commit- 
tee of advice " to advise with any of the neighboring towns . . . and 
for to Endeavor to keep pease and good order in this Town," Sept. 
25, 1774. Son of Dr. John Bishop, who came to Medford, 1685, and 

Sarah ; born 1722; married Abigail, daughter of Dr. Simon 

Tufts, Sr., Dec. 7, 1752; died Dec. 17, 1791 ; home on High street, 
West Medford; taxed first in Medford, 1743. 

Blanchard, Samuel. Loaned money to pay bounty to men enlisting for 
Canadian Expedition, July, 1776. Son of Samuel and Sarah Pratt; 
born Feb. i, 1720 (birth recorded in Maiden); lived in that part of 
Medford now called Wellington; married Sarah Cutter April 12, 1745; 
died Sept. i, 1790; had eight children born in Maiden, and one in 
Medford; taxed in Medford, 1765 to 1785. 

Blodgett, Jonathan. Loaned money to pay bounty to men enlisting 
to go to Canada, July, 1776. Son of Seth and Elizabeth (Harding) ; 
born in Woburn April 29, 1743; taxed in Medford, 1775, '76,' 77, '78, '79. 

Blodgett, Seth, Capt. Loaned monej' to pay bounty, July, 1776. Son 
of Caleb and Sarah (Wyman) of Woburn; born Feb. 2, 1718-9; 
married Elizabeth Harding; proprietor of mill at foot of Cross street, 
Medford, 1761 to 1780; died Oct. 8, 1783; member of Ancient and 
Honorable Artillery; taxed in Medford from 1751 to 1783, except 
1765, '66, '67, and '70. 



PATRIOTIC CITIZENS. 



57 



Bradshaw, Simon. Loaned money for bounty, July, 1776. Leather 
dresser; born March 5, 1739; son of Simon and Mary (Johnson) ; 
married Hannah Johnson July 12, 1770 ; taxed 1760 to 1777 in Medford. 

Bradshaw, William. Loaned money for bounty, July, 1776. Born 
Aug. 14, 1733; son of Jonathan and Mary (Watson) ; married Eliza- 
beth Lampson, June 5, 1761 ; died in Medford April 8, 1793; taxed 
first in Medford, 1754. 

Brooks, Abigail. Served chocolate to soldiers passing her house return- 
ing from battle of Lexington. Born Abigail Brown, daughter of Rev. 
John of Haverhill and Joanna (Cotton), a descendant of Rev. John 
Cotton; married Rev. Edward Brooks; died Nov. 28, 1800; aged 69. 

Brooks, Ebknezer, Jr., Capt. Committee of correspondence, 1775; 
committee of advice, 1774. Son of Caleb and Mary (Wyer) ; married 
Susanna Thompson, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Bradshaw) ; 
died Sept. 18, 1775; aged 40; half brother of Gov. John Brooks; 
taxed 1757-1774. 

Brooks, Thomas. Loaned money for bounty paid men enlisting to go 
to N. Y., Sept., 1776; loaned money to town for military purposes; 
representative to General Court, 1776 to 1782. Born Jan. 6, 1732 ; son 
of Samuel and Mary (Boutwell) ; married, ist, Feb. 27, 1755, Anna 
Hall; 2d, Mercy, daughter of Dr. Simon Tufts, Sr., 1762; died March 
7j 1799* Grandfather of Rev. Charles Brooks, who wrote History of 
Medford. 

Burns, Francis. Loaned money for bounty, July, 1776. Trader; taxed 
first in Medford, 1751 ; married, ist, Margaret McClelland or McKIen- 
nin; 2d, Hannah Brooks, daughter of Caleb and Ruth Albree, 1794: 
died Dec. 5, 1800; aged 77. Mary, ist wife of Samuel Buel, was his 
daughter by first wife. 

CoDMAN, Isaac. Loaned money to United States Government. " Late 
inhabitant of Charlestown, 1775"; taxed in Medford, 1775 to 17S2, 
inclusive; son of John and Parnell (Foster) ; baptized Aug. 21, 1737; 
married Abigail Foster, Sept. 22, 1768; served as a soldier, 1757; left 
no children. (Wyman.) 

Foster, Jonathan. Loaned money for bounty, July, 1776; chairman 
of a " class " for recruiting, 1782. Married Susanna Tufts, March 19, 
1776; wife admitted to church in Medford, June 16, 1776; taxed in 
Medford, 1774 to 1778; in Boston, 178S to 1793; living in 1813. 



C8 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

FowLE, Henry. Loaned money to United States Government; commit- 
tee of prosecution, 1777; loaned money for bounty paid men enlisting 
to go to Canada, July, 1776, and N. Y., Sept., 1776. Son of Henry 
and Dorothy (Seccomb) ; born March 15, 1741 ; married Mary Patten, 
Jan. 8, 1766; owned land on High street, east of Governor's avenue; 
died June 13, 1810. 

Francis, Seth. Loaned money for bounty, Julj', 1776. Born Jan. 14, 
1744; son of Stephen and Love, widow of Josiah Wyman and daugh- 
ter of Lieut. Seth and Esther (Johnson) Wyman; died Oct. 31, 1791. 

Frothingham, Joseph. Loaned money to United States Government. 
Probably son of Nathaniel and Susanna (Whittemore) ; born Jan. 15, 
1723-4; married, ist, Mary Foster, 1750, and 2d, Deborah Rand, 1752 ; 
died Sept. 31, 1787 (Wyman). Taxed in Medford, 1778 to 1783, 
inclusive. 

Fulton, John. Loaned money for bounty paid to men enlisting July, 
1776 and Sept., 1776. Born in Boston; probably son of John and 
Ann Wier; married Sarah Bradlee, 1767; came to Medford from 
Boston, 1772; died Feb. 9, 1790; occupation, bookkeeper. 

Fulton, Sarah. Carried despatches to Boston during siege by order of 
Gen. Washington; nursed wounded soldiers in field hospital at Med- 
ford, after battle of Bunker Hill; assisted in disguising her husband 
and brothers for " Boston Tea Party." Fulton street, Medford, named 
in her honor. Daughter of Samuel and Mary (Andrus) Bradlee; born 
in Dorchester, Dec. 24, 1740; died Nov. 13, 1835; wife of John Fulton 
mentioned above. 

GowEN, William. Loaned money to United States Government for 
military purposes; one of committee to settle bounty accounts, 1778; 
loaned money for bounty paid to men enlisting to go to N. Y. , Sept., 
1776. Son of Hammond and Mary (Crosswell) of Charlestown ; 
baptized Sept. 13, 1749; married Eleanor Cutter, daughter of Ebenezer, 
April 29, 1772; father of Maria Gowen Brooks, the novelist; taxed in 
Medford, 1771 to 1794. 

Greenleaf, Gardiner. Loaned money for bounty, July, 1776. Son 
of Stephen and Mary ; born Jan. 9, 1726; married Catherine Thomp- 
son Jan. 21, 1748; died Nov. 21, 1808. 

Hall, Aaron, a.m. Loaned money for bounty, July, 1776; representa- 
tive to General Court, 1772-75, and 1782-84. Son of Hon. Stephen 
Hall and Mary (Muzzy); born April 23, 1737; married Rebecca 
Pool, Jan. 3, 1760; died March 19, 1787. 



PATRIOTIC CITIZENS. 59 

Hall, Benjamin. Representative to General Court, 1770 to 1773; mem- 
ber of Provincial Congress, 1774-75; committee of correspondence, 
1775; committee of safety, 1777; loaned money to Town of Medford 
for bounty, and to United States Government for military purposes. 
Son of Andrew and Abigail (Walker) ; born Jan. 27, 1731; married, 
ist, Hepzibah Jones, May 3, 1753; 2d, Mary Green (widow), Aug. 23, 
1791 ; died Feb. 2, 1817 ; occupation, distiller and general trader. 
For further account of his life see Medford Historical Register, 
vol. 3, p. 76- 

Hall, Benjamin, Jr. Loaned money to pay bounty to those enlisting 
to go to Canada, July, 1776, and to go to N. Y., Sept., 1776; town 
clerk, 1783. Son of Benjamin and Hepzibah (Jones) ; born Aug. 9, 
1754 1 married Lucy Tufts, daughter of Dr. Simon and Lucy (Dud- 
ley), Nov. 20, 1777; died Sept. 19, 1807; he began' housekeeping in 
the "Jonathan Wade," or "Garrison House," but from 1785 to his 
death lived in house on easterly corner of High street and Governor's 
avenue. 

Hall, Ebenezer, Capt. Committee of correspondence, 1776; commit- 
tee of prosecution, 1777; committee of safety, 1777; on various com- 
mittees of patriotic nature during war. Son of John and Elizabeth 
(Walker); baptized July 24, 1737; married Susanna Floyd, Nov. 3, 
1763; died May i, 1800; called " Baker Hall." 

Hall, Ebenezer, Jr. Loaned money for bounty, Sept., 1776. Son of 
Andrew and Abigail (Walker); born May 31, 1748; married Martha 
Jones April 12, 1770; died March 21, 1835; occupation, tanner; resi- 
dence High street, between Governor's avenue and Bradlee road. 

Hall, Fitch. Loaned money for bounty, Sept., 1776. Son of Benjamin 
and Hepzibah (Jones); born Jan. 27, 1759; married Judith Brasher 
May 14, 1783; died Dec. 28, 1841 ; occupation, distiller. 

Hall, Richard. Committee of safety, 1777; loaned money to United 
States Government for military purposes ; town clerk ; loaned large 
sums to town for army expenses. Born Nov. 12, 1737; son of Andrew 
and Abigail (Walker) ; married Lucy Jones, sister of wives of Benja- 
min and Ebenezer Hall, Jr., Nov. 9, 1762; died June 27, 1S27; occu- 
pation, hatter; lived in house on westerly corner of High street and 
Governor's avenue. 

Hall, Samuel. Loaned money to United States Government for mili- 
tary purposes; committee of safety, 1780, '81. Son of Jonathan and 
Anna (Fowle) ; born Nov. 2, 1740; died Oct. 10, 1807; called " Printer 



60 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

Hall"; published ^a/ew Gazette., 1768-74; established iVcw £«^/a«rf 
Chronicle., 1775, in Cambridge; removed business to Boston, 1776: 
published Salem Gazette, 17S1, and Massachusetts Gazette, 1785; in 
1789, he opened a book-store in Boston; taxed in Medford, 1774, ^"^ 
from 1776 to 1800. 

Hall, Stephen, Esq. Chosen to meet with committee of convention, 
1768, at Boston; representative to General Court, 1763 to 1770; com- 
mittee of advice, 1774; loaned money for bounty, July, 1776. Son of 
Capt. John and Jemima (Syll) ; born Jan. 19, 1704; married Mary 
Muzzy, Dec. 14, 1732; he was called "Jr." because he had an uncle, 
Stephen Hall, living in Medford; also called " Honorable " and "Gen- 
tleman " ; died Dec. i, 1786. 

Hall, Stephen, Tertius. Committee of correspondence, 1773, '75, '76; 
committee of advice, 1774; committee of prosecution, 1777; commit- 
tee of safety, 1777, '78, '79; representative to Provincial Congress, 
1775. Born Aug. 10, 1721 ; married Sarah Keizar, Jan. 5, 1743 (parish 
records); died Aug. 12 (.'), 1796. 

Hall, Willis. Committee of advice, 1774; loaned money for bounty, 
July and Sept., 1776. Son of Hon. Stephen and Mary (Muzzy) ; 
born Aug. 20, 1733; died Dec. 3, 1812; married Sarah Holmes, Nov. 
II, 1790; he was grandfather of Maj. George L. Stearns, who organ- 
ized negro regiments during the Civil War. 

Kidder, Samuel, Deacon. Committee of advice, 1774; committee of 
correspondence, 1775-76. Born in Cambridge, June 21, 1720; son of 
Francis and Mary (Prentice) ; married, ist, Mary Thompson, March 

20, 1744; 2d, Joanna ; died March 6, 1777; aged 57; lived on 

Salem street, near River street; taxed first in Medford, 1741. 

Leathe, John. Loaned money to United States Government for war 
purposes; loaned money to pay bounty, July, 1776. Occupation, 
cordwainer; taxed first in Medford, 1739; married Elizabeth Waite, 
Nov. 10, 1741 ; died Jan. 16, 1801 ; aged 83; heirs, John, Francis, 
Sarah, and Hannah, daughter of Richard deceased. 

Mead, Israel. Loaned money to pay bounty, July, 1776. Came to 
Medford from Watertown, with wife and three children, May 3, 1756; 
taxed in Medford, 1757 to 1779; occupation, tailor; born in Water- 
town, Aug. 27, 1716; son of John and Rebecca; wife, Mary ; 

died Aug. 25, 1795. 



PATRIOTIC CITIZENS. 6 I 

Newhall, Timothy. Committee of prosecution, 1777. Loaned money 
for bounty, July and Sept., 1776. Married Susanna Bradshaw (born 
May, 1742), daughter of Jonathan and Mary, March i, 1764; she died 
May 27, 1776; aged 34 (tombstone) ; he died Jan. 14, 1799; taxed in 
Medford, 1761 to 1799. 

Patten, Jonathan. Committee of safety, 1778-79; town treasurer, 
1778 to 1786; loaned money for bounty, July, 1776; loaned money 
to United States Government to carry on the war. Son of William 
and Anna (Seccomb) ; born July 7, 1738; married Susanna Bradshaw 
(born July 12, 1741 ; died, 1833), daughter of Stephen and Mary, 
April 14, 1762; died July 28, 1790; taxed first in Medford, 1759. 

Patten, Thomas. Committee of advice, 1774; loaned money to United 
States Government; committee of correspondence, 1775; loaned 
money to pay bounty, July, 1776. Born Feb. 20, 1719; son of 
William and Abigail, daughter of Stephen Willis; married, ist., 
Mary, daughter of Jonathan Tufts, innholder, and Sarah (Wait), Jan. 
10, 1745; married, 2d, Mary Binford, Jan. 8, 1765; died Nov. 26, 
1786; called brickmaker and yeoman; taxed first in Medford, 1740; 
uncle of Jonathan, above. 

Peirce, Joseph. Loaned money to pay bounty, July, 1776. Son of 
Nathaniel; baptized March 20, 1742; married Hannah Sockers, Nov. 
6, 1771 ; died Aug. 18, 1777. 

Polly, Nathaniel. Loaned money for bounty, July, 1776. Son of 

Samuel and Elizabeth ; born April 27, 1731; married Mary 

; died April 27, 1796. His house stood corner of Salem street 

and Revere place; it was moved to the end of the court and was 
standing in 1880. (J. H. Hooper, a descendant.) 

Pool, Richard. Loaned money for bounty, July and Sept., 1776. Born 
April 13, 1756; son of Zachariah and Rebecca (Wade); married 
Frances Calf (Calef), Oct. i, 1778; died Dec. 9, 1781. 

SiMONDS, Joshua. Committee of correspondence, 1773 and 1776; com- 
mittee of advice, 1774; committee of safety, 1777; loaned money to 
L^nited States Government; selectman during war; loaned money to 

pay bounty July and Sept., 1776. Married Rebecca , before 1747 ; 

died Jan. 7, 1793; taxed first in Medford, 1746. 

SiMONDS, Jude. Loaned money for bounty, July and Sept., 1776. Married 
Elizabeth Polly, Nov. 10, 1772; taxed in Medford, 1771-1805. 



62 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

Symmes, John. Loaned money for bounty, July and Sept., 1776. Son 
of William and Ruth (Converse) ; born 1720; married Nov. 7, 1754, 
Abigail Dix of Waltham ; died between Jan. 1 and Dec. i, 1785; 
lived in what is now Winchester. 

Symmes, Timothy. Loaned money for bounty, July, 1776. Born 1714: 
son of William and Ruth (Converse) ; married Elizabeth Bodge; died 
Oct. 30, 17S3; taxed in Medford, 1754 to Sept., 1783. 

Teel, Benjamin. Loaned money to United States Government; loaned 
money for bounty, July, 1776. Son of Benjamin of Charlestown (now 
West Somerville) and Anna (Jenkins); born July i, 1719; married 
Mary Gill of Maiden, April 7, 17S3; died Aug. 25, 1784; left the bulk 
of his property to Jonathan and Benjamin Teel, his nephews. 

Thompson, Josiah. Loaned money for bounty, July, 1776. Collector ot 

taxes, 1775; married Rebecca before 1758; his widow died 

April 8, 1807; he died May 29, 1792 ; taxed in Medford, 1744-5 to 1792 

Tufts, Hutchinson. Loaned money to pay bounty, July and Sept., 
1776; son of Benjamin and Mary (Hutchinson) ; born Jan. 25, 1743; 
married Mary Grover, of Maiden, Jan. 17, 1769; died Aug. 2, 1800; 
widow died, 1819. 

Tufts, James. Loaned money to United States Government; loaned 
money for bounty, July and Sept., 1776. Son of James ; taxed first in 
Medford, 1754, when part of Charlestown was annexed to Medford ; 
married Tabitha Binford before that tiine ; he died Nov. 5, 1786. 

Tufts, Joseph. Committee of correspondence, 1776 ; committee of safety, 
1778; grand juror, 1775; loaned money for bounty, Sept., 1776. 
Born Feb. 21, 1731 ; son of Joseph and Lydia (Francis); died Dec. 6, 
1778; taxed in Medford, 1761 to 1777; widow, Hannah, taxed 1778 
to 1792. 

Tufts, Joseph, Jr. Loaned money for bounty, July, 1776. Born Feb. 
17, 1755; son of Joseph and Hannah; taxed in Medford, 1775 to 1794. 

Tufts, Nathan. Loaned money for bounty, July and Sept., 1776. Son 
of Joseph and Lydia (Francis) ; born Oct. 5, 1741 ; married Elizabeth 
Tufts, Dec. 26, 1770; died June 12, 1784. 

Tufts, Simon, Esc^ Loaned money for bounty for men enlisting to go 
to Canada, July, 1776; representative to General Court, 1772 to 1775; 
as trustee of estate of Isaac Royall he loaned money for bounty, 1776. 
Physician; he attended wounded soldiers after battle of Bunker Hill. 



PATRIOTIC CITIZENS. 63 

Son of Dr. Simon Tufts and Abigail Smith; born Jan. 16, 1727; 
graduated from Harvard, 1746; married, ist, Lucj Dudley, daughter 
of Gov. Joseph Dudley; married, 2d, Elizabeth, daughter of Hon. 
Stephen Hall; died Dec. 31, 1786. 

Tufts, William, Jr. Loaned money for bounty, July, 1776. Born 

Sept. 4, 1727; son of John and Sarah ; married Catherine 

Tufts (who married, 3d, Wyman, 3d, Richardson). Enlisted in ex- 
pedition under Pepperell at age of 18; at siege of Louisburg, when 
the English were taking the Island Battery by storm, he was first to 
enter the works, climbed the flag staff, lore down the French colors, 
and put his red coat in its place to represent the English flag. He 
died April 27, 1782. 

TuRELL, Ebenezer, Rev. Loaned money to town to pay bounty. Born 
Feb. 15, 1702; son of Samuel and Lydia (Stoddard); ordained and 
settled in Medford, 1724; died there, Dec. 8, 1778; married, isl, 
Jane Colman, daughter of Rev. Benj. Colman, Aug. 11, 1726; 2d, 
Lucy Davenport, Oct. 23, 1735, and 3d, Jane Tyler, daughter of Wm. 
Pepperell of Kittery. This was her third marriage. 

Turner, Watts. Loaned money for bounty, July and Sept., 1776. Son 
of John; baptized Oct. 17, 1742; married Hannah Tufts, daughter of 
Benjamin and Hannah (Turner), May 14, 1772 ; married. 2d, Ruhamah 
Brooks, Sept. 30, 1789; died Sept. 16, 1833. 

Tyssick, . Loaned money for bounty, Sept., 1776. Probably 

Joseph; see list of soldiers. 

Wade, John. Loaned money to pay bounty, July, 1776; also loaned 
money to the state for military purposes. Son of Nathaniel and 
Rebecca (Symonds), born 1742; married, ist, Elizabeth Pool, daugh- 
ter of Zachariah and Rebecca (Wade), Jan. 22, 1766; married, 2d, 
Rebecca, daughter of Edward Wade of Maiden ; occupation, leather 
dresser; his yard was at the foot of Simonds Hill, and his i-esidence 
was on High street, opposite Bradlee road. 

Warren, Isaac, Deacon. Committee of correspondence, 1773-1775; 
committee of safety, 1778 to 1781, inclusive. Son of Dea. John 

and Abigail ; born Jan. i, 1716, in Weston ; died in Medford, 

Nov. 18, 1795 (gravestone) ; married, ist, Ruth Hall, Nov. 19, 1741 ; 
2d, Elizabeth Reeves, Oct. 3, 1754; 3d, Lydia, daughter of Hon. 
Ebenezer Burrell; she died Nov. 10, 1767 (gravestone); 4th, Sarah, 
who was admitted to church in Medford, Nov. 21, 1784 (parish 
records) . 



64 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

WiLLARD, . Loaned money for bounty, Sept., 1776. [Ephraim 

Willard was taxed in Medford, 1776.] 

Williams, Gershom. Loaned money to pay bounty, July and Sept., 1776; 
one of a committee to purchase beef; grand juror, 1781 ; occupation, 
victualler. Came with wife and children from '•'■ Parson Cook's Parish, 
Cambridge" (Arlington), April, 1772. 

WiNSHiP, Isaac. Loaned money for bounty, July and Sept., 1776. 
Probably son of Isaac and Hannah; born April 7, 1749; married 
Sarah Fessenden, March 4, 1773; resided in Medford, and afterward 
in Lexington, where he was buried Dec. i, 1834. 

WiNSHiP, Samuel. Loaned money for bounty, July and Sept., 1776. 
Probably son of Samuel and Hannah (Loring) ; born April 17, 1744; 
married Lucy, daughter of Stephen Hall, Tertius, 1768. 

Wyman, James. Committee of correspondence, 1775; committee of 
prosecution, 1777; town treasurer, 1767 to 1778; representative to 
General Court, 1787; loaned money for bounty, Sept., 1776. Born 
Sept. 28, 1726, in Woburn ; son of Joshua and Mary (Pollard) ; married 
Susanna Cutter, March 18, 1756; died Oct. 22, 1813. 



ADDITIONAL 

MILITARY RECORDS. 

SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION RESIDING IN MEDFORD BEFORE 
OR AFTER THE WAR.* 

Cary, Richard, Col. Major in a Connecticut Regt. ; brigade major, 
Aug., 1775, to June, 1776. See Carary, vol. 3, p. 86. Aide-de-camp 
to General Washington. Son of Richard and Elizabeth ; born in 
Charlestown, Jan, 13, 1746-7; at Harvard, 1763; married, ist., Anna 
Phillips, July 17, 1771 ; 2d, Anna Low. Came to Medford, 1777, and 
occupied Royall estate, Main street ; during his residence there he was 
active in recruiting men for the army and in assisting soldiers' fami- 
lies; taxed in Medford, 1777 to 1783; his father was taxed in Medford, 
1781 to 1786, and his brother, Samuel, 1777 to 1783. Col. Cary settled 
subsequently in Cooperstown, N. Y., and died after 1800. 

Francis, Aaron. Residence, Beverly; in service as corporal, June 8, 
1775; quartermaster in regiment of his brother. Col. Ebenezer Francis; 
served from Jan. i, 1777, to April 16, 1782 ; vol. 6, p. 5. Born in 
Medford, Feb. 16, 1751 ; son of Ebenezer and Rachel (Tufts). 

Francis, Ebenezer, Col. Residence, Beverly; served as lieutenant, 
Lexington alarm; commissioned captain, 1775; organized regiment, 
Jan., 1777; killed at battle of Hubbardton, Vt., July 7, 1777; vol. 6, 
p. 9. Son of Ebenezer and Rachel (Tufts) of Medford ; born Dec. 22, 
^743- 

Francis, John. Captain and adjutant; service, Jan. i, 1777, to March 
18, 1780; adjutant in regiment of his brother, Ebenezer; vol. 6, p. 9; 
born in Medford, Sept. 28, 1753; son of Ebenezer and Rachel (Tufts) ; 
residence, Beverly. 

Francis, Loring. Residence Lunenburg; service in R. L, 1779; vol. 6, 
p. II. Born in Medford, June 7, 1762. See Richard. 

*This list consists of a few names which I have found in the course of my researches; there 
has been no effort to make a complete record. 



66 MEDFORD IN THE REVOLUTION. 

Francis, Richard. Residence Lunenburg; service in R. I., 1779; vol. 
6, p. II. Richard and Loring w^ere sons of Richard and Hannah 
(Winship) ; Richard, Sr., left Medford, 1768 or '69. Richard, the 
soldier, born in Medford, Dec. 16, 1760. 

Francis, Thomas. Residence Beverly; sergeant, Lexington alarm; ist 
Lieut., Feb. 20, 1777; served until Dec. 13, 1782; commissioned cap- 
tain, 1780; vol. 6, p. 12. Brother of Col. Ebenezer Francis: born in 
Medford, July 15, 1748; resided in Medford, 1783 to 1790. 

Gates, Edmund Trowbridge. Served in Continental Army, 1780; age 
19; residence Framingham; vol. 6, p. 313. Born July 31, 1761 ; 
married Lucy Tufts of Maiden, March 9, 1786; died in Medford, Oct. 
I, 1822; taxed first in Medford, 1786. 

Polly, Nathaniel. Enlisted at Framingham ; served at Tiverton, R. L 
Born in Medford, Feb. 8, 1761 ; son of Nathaniel and Mary; married, 
Oct. 18, 17S1, Anna Maynard, of Framingham; he vi^as then a resi- 
dent of Sherborn. He learned trade of brickmaker, and in later life 
kept the half-way house between Boston and Providence, at South 
Walpole; died in Walpole, Oct. 30, 1830. 

Richardson, James. Served 15 mos. as seaman on frigate Alliance; 
assisted in capture of British vessels. Seraph and Coutiiess of Scar- 
borough, 1779. Married Lucy, daughter of Paul Wyman, of Woburn 
(Revolutionary soldier), Dec. 26, 1781 ; died at Medford, Feb. 26, 1818; 
aged 56 (tombstone) ; widow drew pension. He is buried in Cross 
Street Cemetery, Medford. 

Stimson, Ebenezer. Served in Capt. John Brooks' company of Reading, 
Mass., April 19, 1775; afterward served 6 mos. in Continental Army. 
Son of Ebenezer and Eleanor; born in South Reading, 1749; married 
Esther Hartshorn, of Reading, 17S0, and had 12 children; he died in 
Medford, 1829; buried in Cross Street Cemetery; resided in "Foun- 
tain House," Salem street, and owned a large tract of land in that 
vicinity; taxed in Medford, 1816 to 1829; heirs taxed, 1830; his 
daughter Eleanor married Nathaniel Jaquith of Medford. 

Swan, Samuel, Major. Private, Dorchester Heights, 1776; 8 mos. 
service; no date (archives). Furnished provisions for army (board 
of war records ; vols. 149 and 150); quartermaster-general in North- 
ern army with rank major, under Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln ; also, 
quartermaster-general under Commissary Devens, at Ticonderoga, 
1777; went there several times with provisions. He was also with 
Maj. Gen. Lincoln during Shay's Rebellion (papers in possession of 



L.efC. 



ADDITIONAL MILITARY RECORDS. 67 

Swan family). Signer of petition for town meeting to act against 
importation of tea, 1773; March 20, 1777, town meeting (in Charles- 
town) adjourned to Maj. Swan's barn, at desire of persons lately liv- 
ing in Charlestown, who wished to be allowed to vote on town affairs ; 
petition granted. May 26, 1777, chosen to procure evidence against 
tories; town clerk of Charlestown, 1779; treasurer, 1778 and 1780; 
one of recruiting committee, 1777, '80 (Charlestown records). Elected 
member of Ancient and Honorable Artillery, Jan., 1787; his father 
owned Bunker Hill Monument lot, and it was set off to him at his 
father's death ; his family made its home in Medford when driven out 
of Charlestown ; in 1791 he made Medford his permanent home. 
Born in Charlestown Jan. 17, 1750; son of Samuel and Joanna (Rich- 
ardson) ; married Hannah Lamson, March 5, 1778; died Nov. 14, 
1825. Father of Dr. Daniel Swan of Medford, Benjamin L. Swan 
of New York, and others. 

Tufts, Francis. In 1775 enlisted from Lincoln Co. (Maine) for service 
at Tiverton, R. I.; 1776, in service at Dorchester Heights; 1775, 40 
days' service on Penobscot river, dislodging tories who were stealing 
cattle (pension papers). Born in Medford July 21, 1744; son of 
Benjamin and Hannah (Johnson) ; married, ist, in Medford, Nov. 26, 
1767, Sarah Blount; 2d, Lydia (Blount) Blackstone, sister of first 
wife. He was one of three who purchased the present town of Farm- 
ington. Me., and sold it to settlers; emigrated to Maineville, O., at 
age of 87, making most of the trip on horseback; died in Maineville in 
1S33; aged 89; occupation, brickmaker; learned his trade in Medford. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 078 800 4 # 



